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PHOTO GALLERY
WEST HARTFORD, CONN. – Behind 67 percent from beyond the arc the University of Hartford women's basketball team (11-14, 8-4 AE) scored its fifth straight victory after 66-59 over the Boston University Terriers. The loss for BU (13-11, 10-2 AE) is the second straight after opening the conference season with a 10-0 record. Senior point guard Jackie Smith was named Hartford Nestle Purina ONE America East Player of the game, finishing with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from beyond the three point line.
Smith was one of three Hawks in double figures with fellow classmate Mary Silvia and sophomore Ruthanne Doherty leading the way with 14 points each. Silvia also had a hot hand from beyond the three point line as she finished perfect in her four attempts, while shooting 4-of-7 overall for the game. Doherty finished the game shooting 4-of-7, while she was 6-of-15 at the line and finished with her second double double of the season leading the team with 11 rebounds. Also among the leading scorers was Nikkia Smith who finished with nine points, including going a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line.
As a team the Hawks finished the game with an impressive 45-26 rebounding margin, the largest of the season and the first time the Hawks have outrebounded an opponent by more than seven all year. Of the 10 players who saw time for the Hawks all but one finished with at least two rebounds. Following Doherty team high 11 was Jackie Smith and Silvia with six and Alex Hall with five.
For the game, the Hawks, who shot 37 percent overall (16-of-44) were outshot by Boston University who finished the game shooting 41 percent (23-of-56). The major difference in the game came from beyond the three point arc where the Hawks were 8-of-12 overall, while holding the Terriers to 5-of-21 (23.8 percent). The Hawks also took a season high 36 free throw, finishing the game shooting 72.2 percent at the line (26-of-36), while the Terriers were 8-of-15 at the free throw line.
Despite the score being tied four different times, including with 16:23 remaining in the second half, the Hawks never trailed in the game and led by as much as 10 in the second half. Neither team managed to figure the others defense in the early going with the first points of the game coming almost four minutes in on a pair of free throws from Doherty.
The Terriers would answer right back with a layup from Kerry Cashman, her only points in the first half, nine seconds later. The first four points for Hartford came at the free throw line as Hall added two more almost two minutes later before the first field goal of the game came from Doherty with 13:27 remaining in the first half.
That layup from Doherty was the first points in an 8-1 run for the Hawks which helped open up a seven points lead with 11:41 to play before the break. The lead, which came by way of a three pointer for Jackie Smith, forced the Terriers to call a timeout and refocus. They did just that, coming out of that timeout to rattle off five unanswered points and cut the Hawks lead to two with 10:29 remaining in the half.
The Hawks largest lead of the half was nine and that came after a 7-0 run that spanned the next three minutes and was capped off by a jumper from Doherty. The Terriers would again refocus and manage a tie at 21, using a 11-2 run, with 2:52 remaining before the break.
The Hawks weren't going to relinquish any lead and answered that tie score with a three pointer from Silvia off a pass from Nikkia Smith. A pair of free throws from Ilicia Mathis with 17 seconds remaining in the half would be the final points of the half for either team as a last second three point attempt from Kasie Carbacio was off the mark and the Hawks took a 31-27 advantage into the locker room.
Coming out of the break, the Hawks would see their lead cut to one with 17:43 remaining in the second half when Chantell Alford connected from down town off a feed from Mo Moran. The Hawks wouldn't rest and saw their next two points come at the free throw line from Hall, before another three pointer from Alford tied the game at 35.
What would amount to be the final tie of the game was again answered by a pair of free throws, this time from Nikkia Smith. The Hawks would then use a 7-0 run to retake a nine point lead, 48-39, with 12:43 to play. Silvia would provide the final basket in that run, a three pointer.
Foul trouble would turn into a major problem for the Terriers, who saw four of their five starters with three fouls or more with 12 minutes to play in the second half. The Hawks took advantage of those troubles and opened up their largest lead of the game with 8:28 remaining when a pair of free throws from Nikkia Smith amounted to two second chance points and a 54-44 advantage.
The Terriers would manage to cut the Hawks lead to two on back-to-back occasions, both on layups from Cashman, who finished the game 5-of-5 from the field for 13 total points. Cashman's layups were broken up by a pair of made free throws from Mathis.
The Hawks would again open up a seven point lead, scoring five straight on a three pointer from Silvia and a jumper from Doherty, taking a 63-56 lead with 1:55 remaining. Kat Briggs would answer with a three pointer almost a minute later, but that would be the final points for the Terriers as they missed their next four three point attempts, which would be the last shots of the game for the visiting team.
Hartford will return to action on the road at Binghamton on Thursday night. The Hawks and Bearcats are scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. tip at the Events Center on the Binghamton University campus in Vestal, N.Y.
