BOX SCORE
Baltimore, Md. – The University of Hartford women's basketball team forced a second overtime, the first overtime game this season, with a three pointer at the buzzer from senior Jackie Smith but couldn't convert on eight shots in the final overtime falling 67-60 at UMBC on Thursday afternoon. Overall, the Hawks were led by sophomore Daphne Elliott who finished with 17 points and was named the America East Player of the Game for Hartford.
Elliott's 17 points reflected the only player in double figures for the Hawks (6-13 overall, 3-3 America East) as eight of the nine players who saw time scored at least three points. Hartford finished the game shooting 30.3 percent overall (20-of-66), while hitting 11-of-30 from beyond the arc (36.7 percent). The 11 three pointers is a season high for Hartford.
Alex Hall, Mary Silvia and Smith all added nine points for the Hawks. Smith also led the team with six assists, while sophomore Ruthanne Doherty led the team with eight rebounds as UMBC scored a 45-35 advantage on the boards overall. Tope Obajulo, who finished with 20 points, led the Retrievers (10-9 overall, 4-2 AE) and was named UMBC's America East Player of the Game.
The Hawks came out of the game in a flurry for the second straight game. After allowing four unanswered points from UMBC's Tope Obajulo to open the game the Hawks stormed on to take an 11-7 lead, a lead they would hold through the half. Elliott came out of the gates especially hot as she made her first three field goal attempts, all from beyond the arc, the third accounting for the Hawks first lead of the game.
Another five-straight points for Hartford led to an 18-11 lead with 12:33 remaining. This run featured a three pointer from Smith and a jumper from Silvia. The Hawks largest lead of the game came with 6:32 remaining in the period and courtesy of senior Amanda Weaver who hit a three pointer, giving the visiting team a 29-21 lead.
Hartford would remain without a bucket until the final second of the half when Hall hit her attempt at the buzzer to give Hartford a 32-26 advantage going into the break. Elliott's three early three pointers led the team at the half, while Silvia added seven first half points.
Hartford came out of the break with another flurry, hitting the first two buckets of the half, including a half-court heave from Smith as the shot clock expired. That shot gave Hartford a 37-26 advantage, their first in double figures.
Five-straight for the home team would be answered by six straight for the Hawks, leading to what would be the largest Hartford lead, 12, with 14:21 remaining. The final basket of that run, a jumper from Silvia, turned out to be the only bucket for Hartford for the next 11:11, allowing the Retrievers to compile a 15-0 run and an eventual 46-43 lead.
Hartford was able to tie the game at 46 with three free throws, one from Elliott and a pair from Taylor Clark, but the Retrievers answered by going on a 6-0 run to go ahead 52-46 with 4:05 remaining. The Hawks then answered with their own six point run, all coming on three pointers from Elliott, tying the score with 2:35 remaining.
Meghan Colabella turned in two points with2:03 remaining in the half, in what would amount to be the last basket in regulation for either team. Hartford would eventually tie the game at 52, forcing overtime, with 9.3 seconds remaining on a pair of free throws for junior Ilicia Mathis.
Hartford struck first in the first overtime period with Hall hitting a layup off a feed from Doherty. UMBC would then score the next five point to take a three point lead, which was erased with the last second heroics of Smith for the second time in the game. Smith hit a three pointer with .7 on the clock and UMBC couldn't muster a shot in that time, forcing the second overtime period.
The Hawks then went cold in the final overtime, missing all eight of their shots, with six of those coming from more than 19 feet away from the hoop. The Retrievers would pull ahead by four with 3:06 remaining in the second overtime. The score would remain with the five point advantage for the Retrievers until late free throws in the final minute.
The Hawks will return to action on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. when they travel to Boston University for their third game of the week. Fans can catch all the action live from The Roof at BU on Comcast Sports New England as the game is the first of three to be televised as part of the America East television package.
