West Hartford, CT ? The University of Hartford women's basketball team posted its fourth straight conference win with a 62-45 victory over the Binghamton Bearcats at Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion on Tuesday night. The Hawks used a 24-2 run spanning both halves to guarantee the victory. Hartford improves to 14-4 overall and takes over first place in the America East with a 4-1 record.
Hartford was led by the Nestle Purina ONE America East Player of the Game Erica Beverly who finished with her third double double in the last five games (16 points and 11 rebounds). Hartford received 54 of their 62 points from the post position, with all four posts who played finishing with double figures. Danielle Hood and Katie Kelley each finished with 13 points, while Diana Delva added 12.
The Hawks finished the game shooting 44 percent (26-of-59) from the field, but struggled in the first 20 minutes, connecting on 10-of-28 baskets. After opening the game connecting on four of the first six shots the Hawks made just one basket in 12 attempts spanning 13 minutes. Hartford was led from the field by Beverly and Delva, who combined to shoot 11-of-14 and 6-of-6 from the free throw line.
Beverly's 11 rebounds led all players and propelled the Hawks to a 36-31 advantage on the boards. MaryLynne Schaefer and Lisa Etienne finished with six and five rebounds respectively. Etienne poured in a season high eight assists to lead the Hawks, who finished with 17 total. Hartford also grabbed 11 steals, while forcing the Bearcats into 19 turnovers and limiting its own miscues to 11. Binghamton was led by Laine Kurpniece, who was named the Bearcats America East Player of the Game. She finished with 11 points.
The teams traded baskets for the first eight minutes with neither team leading by more than three, until the Bearcats pulled ahead by seven during a Hawks shooting drought. Binghamton would extend its lead to seven on four different occasions, including with 47 seconds remaining. The Hawks ended the half scoring the final three points on a Kelley free throw and a Beverly layup with two seconds to play.
Hartford came out of the break and scored the first 19 points of the half, erasing the Binghamton lead and giving themselves a 15 point lead. Hartford held the Bearcats without a point in the second half until a pair of Erica Carter free throws with 12:30 to play. Hartford then extended its lead to 18 before the Bearcats scored eight unanswered to pull back within 10 points, 47-37, with 8:43 to play.
Hartford answered the eight point Bearcats run with three-straight baskets of its own to re-extend the lead to 16. Binghamton would get no closer than 12 points in the remaining four minutes, while the Hawks scored seven of the final nine points in the game.
Hartford will finish out a two-game home stand with Albany on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Chase Arena. Fans can listen to that game live on WWUH 91.3 FM or online at HartfordHawks.com.
