West Hartford, CT - The University of Hartford women's basketball team picked up a three-point win over #23 Michigan State, 54-51, after trailing by as much as three with 9:34 to play in the game . The Hawks were led by Nestle Purina ONE America East Player of the Game Danielle Hood who finished with 19 points and eight rebounds. Hartford improves to 10-2 with the programs third ever win over a ranked opponent and second at home.
Hood was the only player to reach double figures for Hartford and she did that with 4:14 to play in the first half. Her eight rebounds also tied for the team lead with Lisa Etienne who also finished with eight points. Katie Kelley also added eight points with all of hers coming in the final 9:12. Hood finished the game shooting 9-of-19 from the field as Hartford posted a 38 percent effort for the game (22-of-58).
Michigan State finished with a slight advantage in the rebounding category, 41-40, and was led by Kalisha Keane who finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Michigan State shot 39 percent from the field, 22-of-57. Also adding to the Hawks scoring was Erica Beverly who added six points and five boards, MaryLynne Schaefer and Diana Delva each scoring five points, and Jamie McCabe who added a three pointer.
Michigan State took a 25-22 advantage into the halftime break, despite the Hawks jumping out to an 8-2 lead in the first three minutes of the game. Hood scored six of the first eight points for the Hawks, with all eight being scored in the paint. The Spartans answered right back to tie the score at eight, before Hartford again rallied to go ahead 15-8 before allowing Michigan State to use a 12-0 run to take their first lead of the game 20-15 with 5:17 to play in the game.
The Hawks scored six of the next seven points to tie the score at 21. Michigan State then scored four of the final five points of the half to take the three-point lead into the locker room. Hood led all scorers at the break with 13 points, connecting on 6-of-10 from the field.
Michigan State extended their lead to five twice in the first four minutes, before the Hawks took a one-point advantage on six-straight points off of jumpers from Hood and Etienne (two). Keane regained the Spartans lead with 11:51 to play on a three pointer, before extending that lead to seven with 9:43 to play.
Hartford answered with a 6-0 run and then extended that to 8-2, tying the score at 42 with 5:46 to play. Hartford allowed a jumper from Keane with 4:51 to play before taking the lead for good on a clutch three pointer from McCabe with 4:37 to play.
The Spartans cut that lead to one twice in the final four minutes, including on a three pointer from Alisa Wulff with 48 seconds to play. Hartford answered with a pair of free throws from Beverly and then holding Michigan State to a pair of missed baskets to guarantee the victory.
The Hawks will break for the Christmas Holiday before closing out the non-conference portion of their schedule on December 29 with an in-state match up against second ranked Connecticut at the XL Center (Hartford Civic Center) at 7:00 p.m.
