BOX SCORE

STONY BROOK, N.Y. - Four free throws, two from Jackie Smith and two from Daphne Elliott, with under 24 seconds remaining secured the Hawks 10th conference victory of the season 67-63 at Stony Brook on Wednesday night. In the final road game of the regular season, the Hawks (13-15, 10-5 America East) were led by sophomore Nikkia Smith who finished with 13 points coming off the bench.

Nikkia Smith led four players in double figures for the Hawks, who rebounded from 25 percent (6-of-24) shooting in the first half to shoot 58 percent (14-of-24) in the second 20 minutes. Elliott finished with 12 points, while Mary Silvia added 11 and Jackie Smith chipped in 10 points. The Hawks second half shooting included 75 percent (6-of-8) from beyond the three point arc, while they were also 14-of-17 at the free throw line (82.4 percent). Jackie Smith, who was named the Hawks Nestle Purina ONE America East Player of the Game, led the team with five assists, while Elliott contributed three steals.

Stony Brook also managed four players in double figures, all four members of the starting five. Leading the team was three players who scored 13 points; Sam Landers, Kirsten Jeter and Destiny Jacobs. The Seawolves shot almost identical shooting percentages in both half, finishing the game shooting 54.3 percent (25-of-46). The Seawolves did win the battle of the boards with a 32-22 advantage. Leading the Hawks on the boards was Ruthanne Doherty who finished with five.

The Hawks struggles in the first half began right out of the gates as they quickly found themselves in a seven point hole with 16:52 on the clock. Nikkia Smith would provide the Hawks first points of the game nearly four points in as she hit a jumper with 16:11 on the clock.

Stony Brook extended its lead to nine points on two occasions in the early going, the second coming with 12:24 remaining in the half as Jacobs scored on a lay in. The Hawks followed that bucket with six straight points to pull within three, 15-12. Four of the six points in that run came from the free throw line, two each from Elliott and Doherty.

The Seawolves answered by scoring the next six points over a three minute span to regain a nine point lead with 5:40 remaining in the first half. Silvia would connect on a pair of free throws for the final two Hawks baskets of the half, however four-straight points from the Seawolves kept the Hawks deficit at six going into the break. Silvia's second three pointer provided that margin, 19-25, with 38 seconds on the clock.

Hartford came out of the gates in the second half on fire as they hit three three pointers in the first 1:58 of the half to manage a 9-2 run and their first lead of the game, 28-27. The Seawolves were forced to call a timeout and it paid off as they came out of that break to score 11 straight points to take their largest lead of the game, 38-28. They would match that 10 point advantage twice more, the final time with 14:32 remaining in the game.

Hartford answered that deficit by scoring eight straight points, the first two on three pointers from Jackie Smith and Silvia. The home team would get its lead back to eight points with under 10 minutes to play in the game when Sam Landers connected on her seventh straight point on a jumper.

The Hawks would then rattle off seven straight points to pull within one point on a pair of free throws from Nikkia Smith with 7:13 to play in the game. After trading four points each over the next minute, the Hawks regained a lead with a five point run that ended with a three point play from Doherty. Those three points gave Hartford a 59-57 advantage with 5:10 remaining.

Nikkia Smith would then give the Hawks a four point lead after sinking a pair of free throws following the final media timeout of the game. Her two points gave the Hawks a 63-59 lead. Stony Brook would manage to tie the game at 63 with just over a minute to play, but the Hawks defense prevailed and the four free throws from Jackie Smith and Elliott secured the victory and locked the Hawks into the fourth seed heading into next week's America East Championship.

The Hawks will close out the regular season on Saturday when they welcome the New Hampshire Wildcats for Senior Day at the Chase Family Arena. That game is scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. tip, but fans should arrive early as the Hawks will celebrate the final regular season home game for senior's Jackie Smith, Mary Silvia and Amanda Weaver.