Orono, ME ? The University of Hartford women's basketball team picked up a 18-point, 56-38, victory over the Maine Black Bears. The win is the third straight for Hartford, all in conference play. Hartford improves to 13-4 overall and 3-1 in America East action. The Hawks were led by the Nestle Purina ONE America East Player of the Game Danielle Hood, who finished with a game-best 15 points.

Hood was one of just two players in double figures for both teams, the second was Maine's Amanda Tewksbury who led the Black Bears with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Hood finished with 7-of-9 from the field after finishing the first half 7-of-7 in the first half. The Hawks shot 43 percent for the game, 23-of-54, while holding the Black Bears to 29 percent from the field (15-of-51), including just six second half baskets.

Joining Hood to lead the way was Erica Beverly who finished with eight points on 3-of-7 shooting, while Mary Silvia finished with seven points on 3-of-5, including a three pointer. Diana Delva led the Hawks in the battle of the boards with nine rebounds, while Beverly added five. Maine won the battle 39-32. Hartford added 17 assists in the game, led by Hood who finished with four.

Hartford trailed just once in the game and that came in the early minutes. After scoring the first basket of the game and taking a 4-2 lead the Black Bears scored back-to-back baskets to take a 6-4 advantage with 15:26 remaining in the first half. The Hawks answered with a 7-0 run to take an 11-6 lead, one they wouldn't relinquish.

Maine pulled within two, 13-11, with 8:24 to play before the Hawks took an eight points lead on six-straight, four of which came from Hood. Hood scored another two straight baskets with 3:17 to play taking their first double digit lead of the game, 26-15. After Maine missed the final shot attempt of the first half, Katie Kelley was fouled with seven-tenths of a second remaining to give the Hawks a 31-19 advantage going into the break.

The Hawks came out of the break and scored nine of the first 12 points to extend its lead to 40-22 with 13:36 to play. Hartford scored back-to-back baskets with 10:15 to play and then scored three-straight baskets, including three pointers from Courtney Gomez and Jamie McCabe to take its first 20 points lead of the game 52-29 with 3:31 remaining.

The Hawks return home to face Binghamton, the undefeated conference leader, on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. at Chase Arena.