West Hartford, CT ? The University of Hartford women's basketball team snapped its three-game losing skid with a 63-54 win over the Binghamton Bearcats in each teams America East opener on Wednesday night at Chase Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion. The Hawks were led by the Nestle Purina ONE America East Player of the Game Ilicia Mathis who scored a career-high 15 points.
Mathis' career night was the second in a row, after she scored a then career-high 10 points in the loss at #1 Connecticut before the New Year. She finished the game shooting 4-of-7 from the field, a career-high in field goals made, and 7-of-8 at the free throw line, also a career-high in free throws made. Mathis, the reigning America East Rookie of the Week, was joined in double figures by Erica Beverly who also added 15 points. Beverly shot 6-of-12 from the field and was a perfect 3-of-3 at the free throw line.
The Hawks also saw high scoring nights from Diana Delva who added nine points, Lisa Etienne who added eight points and MaryLynne Schaefer who added seven points. Hartford finished the game shooting 43 percent from the field (23-of-54), while dropping the battle of the boards 33-32. Leading the way in rebounding was Beverly who finished with six. Delva and Mathis each added five rebounds.
The Bearcats shot 44 percent (21-of-48) for the game, with a 50 percent (11-of-22) effort in the second 20 minutes. Leading Binghamton was Erica Carter, the Bearcats America East Player of the Game, who finished with 15 points, while Viive Rebane added 12 points.
Hartford opened the game with three-straight layups from Mathis, Etienne and Schaefer, before Carter scored the first Binghamton basket on a jumper with 16:22 to play before the break. The Hawks opened their lead to eight on a layup from Beverly with 15:16 to play in the half. After allowing five-straight points from Binghamton, the Hawks re-gained their eight point advantage with 11:54 to play in the first half on a three points from Schaefer and a layup from Katie Kelley.
The Bearcats then rattled off eight-straight, including a pair of three points from Carter, to tie the game at 17 before taking a one-point advantage, their only of the game, on a three pointer from Jackie Ward with 7:58 before the break. Hartford answered that lead change by scoring eight-straight points, holding the Bearcats without a basket for the next 5:30.
Etienne would score the final basket of the first half, a jumper with 1:09 to play. Leading all scorers in the first half was Carter with 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 3-of-3 from long range.
The teams traded baskets for the first four minutes of the half before Hartford opened up its largest lead of the game with 15:12 to play on an old fashioned three point play from Beverly.
The Bearcats clawed back to a four-point deficit with back-to-back baskets from Carter and Rebane, down 50-46 with 8:05 to play. Beverly then scored two-straight layups, including a fast break off a steal from Schaefer, to put Hartford up eight, 54-46, with 5:32 to play. The Hawks would re-extend their lead back to nine points in the final seconds on free throws from Schaefer and Jackie Smith to guarantee the conference opening victory.
The Hawks return to action on Saturday on the road at the Maine Black bears in Orono, ME. Hartford and Maine will tip-off at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10.
