Stony Brook, NY - The University of Hartford women's basketball team won its sixth straight with a 15point, 70-55, decision over the Stony Brook Seawolves in Stony Brook, NY. The Hawks were led by the Nestle Purina ONE America East Player of the Game Danielle Hood who completed her second straight game over 20 with 23 total. The Hawks improve to 16-4 overall and 6-1 in conference play.
Hood finished the game shooting 11-of-16, one of four players to finish with double figures, three of them post players. Erica Beverly finished with 15, Diana Delva finished with 14, while Lisa Etienne put up 10. Beverly and Delva combined to finish 10-of-12 from the field, each missing one basket.
Hood also led the team in rebounding with six boards, as Hartford won the battle of the boards by a 39-32 advantage. The Hawks finished the game shooting 48 percent (28-of-58) from the field, including a 57 percent (17-of-30) second half effort. Hartford held the Seawolves to 38 percent (20-of-53) for the game. Hood was also one of three players to finish with three assists, as the Hawks had 15 as a team.
The Seawolves struck first with a layup form Aly Young off a Hartford turnover. The Hawks would then score 12 of the next 16 points to take a 12-6 lead with 13:09 to play. The Seawolves returned the favor scoring eight of the next ten, taking a 14-13 lead with 7:15 to play.
After trading leads with the next two baskets, the Hawks opened up a eight point lead with 2:50 remaining, scoring nine of the next 10 points to go ahead 25-17. The Seawolves weren't going to rest before the break, scoring the final six points, including a pair of free throws with .7 seconds remaining by Kairston Nunn.
Hartford came out of the break scoring the first 11 points to go ahead by 13, the first double digit lead of the game. The run saw all the points come from their starting post players, Hood (five) and Beverly (six). The Seawolves weren't going to go quietly pulling within four with 9:47 to play. Dana Ferraro provided eight of 10 over a four minute span to put the Seawolves within two baskets.
Hartford's lead was back to 10 with 7:16 to play and again with 5:08 remaining. The Seawolves would get no closer than eight points in the final five minutes with Hartford extending its lead to 15 twice in the final moments.
The Hawks will begin a two-game home stand with UMBC on February 5 at Chase Arena. The Hawks and Retrievers meet for the first time since the America East Championship, tipping off at 7:00 p.m.
