West Hartford, CT - The University of Hartford women's basketball team posted its largest margin of victory this season with an 81-46 win over the Stony Brook Seawolves on Senior Night at Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion. The Hawks were led by a season best of 28 points from senior Danielle Hood, who was named the Nestle Purina ONE America East Player of the Game.
The Hawks improved to 23-5 overall and 13-2 in the America East and clinched the number one seed in the upcoming America East Championship Presented by Friendship Cottage Cheese. The win also guarantees the Hawks at least a share of the regular season championship, a win at UMBC on Saturday would guarantee the title outright. Hartford's first game in the America East Championship, being held at Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion, will be at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, March 14, 2008. Hartford will play the winner of the first round game to be played on Tursday, March 13 at 7:00 p.m. The teams in that game have yet to be determined.
Hood led the Hawks from start to finish, never allowing her team to trail the Seawolves. She would open the game with back-to-back layups in the first minute of action and would go on to finish the first half with 20 points, securing her seventh 20 point game of the season. Hood finished the game shooting 10-of-15 from the field and a perfect 8-of-8 at the free throw line, the ninth time this season she has not missed a free throw in a game. She also added five rebounds and an assist.
Joining her in double figures was MaryLynne Schaefer who finished with 15 points and tied her career high in three pointers made with five. Rounding out the leading scorers was Diana Delva who contributed her second straight double double, scoring 11 points and grabbing the same number of rebounds. Delva finished the game 3-of-of-5 from the field and 5-of 6 at the line.
The Hawks shot 46 percent (27-of-59) from the field as a team, including a 52 percent (15-of-29) second half effort. They also shot 83 percent (19-of-23) from the free throw line. Hartford posted a 45-35 advantage in rebounding and finished with 20 assists, the teams first 20 assist game since hosting UMBC on February 5. Leading the Hawks in assists was Lisa Etienne who finished with six.
Prior to the game the Hawks honored their three seniors, Hood, Jaime McCabe and Courtney Gomez. This year's senior class will graduate with the most wins over a four year period. They have posted four-straight 20 or more win seasons and won an America East Championship in all four years. They also saw the most wins in school history in 2005-06 (27) and were a part of the first ever team to win in the NCAA Tournament.
Hartford will close out the 2007-08 regular season on Saturday at UMBC at 7:00 p.m. The game is the final regular season game for all nine America East teams and is the final game before hosting the America East Championship beginning on March 13 at Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion. Fans can purchase individual game tickets for the America East Championship, beginning on Monday, by calling the University of Hartford Athletics Box Office at (860) 768-HAWK (4295) or tickets@hartford.edu.
