West Hartford, CT - The University of Hartford women's basketball team advanced through the quarterfinals of the 2008 America East Championship presented by Friendship Cottage Cheese with a 72-41 decision over the Stony Brook Seawolves on Friday night. The Hawks were led by the third double double in four games from Diana Delva. She finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Hartford held Stony Brook without a double figure scorer and to just 30 percent shooting (17-of-57). The Hawks finished the game shooting 49 percent (28-of-57) from the field, including a 58 percent (15-of-26) second half. Joining Delva in double figures was Erica Beverly and MaryLynne Schaefer, who each finished with 12 points. Beverly also grabbed eight rebounds and finished with four steals, while missing only one of her six attempts and connecting on both of her free throw attempts. Delva led all shooters with a 6-of-7 effort from the field.
The Seawolves were led by Aly Young who finished with nine points. The Hawks defense forced Stony Brook into 26 turnovers, turning those into 21 points. Hartford also saw a lead in points in the paint, 24-12. Lisa Etienne led the Hawks with five assists, while also grabbing four steals. The Hawks finished with 19 assists and 14 steals as a team.
The teams began the game with four runs, the first was a 5-0 run to open the game for Hartford. The Hawks then used a 9-0 run to take a 16-8 lead with 12:17 remaining in the first half. Stony Brook answered that with a 10-0 run, using just under four minutes, to take their first lead of the game at 19-18.
Schaefer and Jamie McCabe broke up the Seawolves run by hitting back-to-back three's on concurrent possessions. The two three pointers began a 9-0 run that game Hartford a 27-19 lead, one they wouldn't relinquish for the remainder of the game. The Hawks opened up their first double digit lead, the same lead they would take into the locker room on a pair of baskets from Beverly and Delva, the final two of the half.
After allowing the Seawolves to score the first basket of the second half, the Hawks quickly extended their lead to more than 20 with a 13-0 run, which gave Hartford a 46-25 advantage with 13:57 to play. Stony Brook brought its deficit to 16 on a three pointer from Cheri Davis with 12:22 remaining in the game.
Hartford extended its lead to more than 30 just once in the game and it would turn out to the be the largest lead and a lead that would turn into the final score when Katie Kelley hit a jumper with 1:09 to play extending the lead to 72-41.
In the early quarterfinals the Vermont Catamounts and the Boston University Terriers kept their championship hopes alive. Vermont posted a 70-45 victory over the New Hampshire Wildcats, while the Terriers defeated UMBC 88-59. Vermont and BU will meet in the second semifinal at 7:35 p.m. on Saturday. Hartford will take on the winner of the Binghamton versus Albany semifinal from Friday night. The Hawks will play their semifinal game at 5:00 p.m. live on NESN.
