PHOTO GALLERY

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Behind a career night from freshman Christie Michals the Hartford women's basketball team cruised to a 66-39 victory over the Providence Friars. Michal's 13 points led all players in the game, while she was one of 12 different Hawks to find the net.

Michals finished the afternoon match-up connecting on 5-of-6 from the field, while perfect from beyond the three-point arc in three attempts. Joining her in leading Hartford was Amber Bepko, Alex Hall and Shanise Bultron who all finished with eight points. All eight of Bepko's points came in the first half, 11 of Hall and Bultron's 16 combined points came in the first 20 minutes.

As a team, the Hawks finished the game shooting 44.0 percent overall on 22-of-50, led  by Michals 5-of-6 effort. Eight of the Hawks 22 total field goals came from beyond the 19-foot three point arc, a season best for Hartford, who also finished 14-of-18 at the free throw line. Defensively, the Hawks held Providence to 26.9 percent overall (14-of-52), including just five field goals in the second half.

Hartford also won the battle of the boards for the third time this season, finishing today's game with a 39-30 advantage. Leading the Hawks on the boards was senior Ruthanne Doherty who finished with six rebounds. Bepko finished just behind her with five boards to go along with a team best three steals. Senior Daphne Elliott combined led Hartford with five assists.

Hartford forced Providence into 16 total turnovers, just the second time this season the Hawks have forced under 20 turnovers for a game. The Hawks turned those 16 turnovers into 17 points compared to just six points for Providence off of Hartford's miscues. Hartford also outscored the Friars 11-8 on the fast break, while the Hawks bench outscored Providence 43-9.

The Hawks came out of the gates and opened up an early 8-2 advantage thanks in part to a three pointer from Alyssa Englert and a layup from Hall. After trading the next few buckets, Hartford used an 8-0 run to extend its lead into double digits for the first time at 19-7. Bultron and Michals both had three pointers in the run, sandwiching the first basket of the season for rookie Mallory Shickora.

After a layup from Providence's Evi Iiskola, Hartford again put together a string of three-straight buckets, a three pointer from Bepko and layups from Hall and junior Taylor Clark. That seven point run opened the Hawks lead up to 26-9. After taking a 29-13 advantage on a free throw from Doherty, the Friars began to chip into the lead with eight of the next 10 points before the second three pointer of the afternoon from Michals provided the final points of the half.

Coming out of the intermission, the Hawks scored the first 13 points of the half, quickly extending their lead to 47-21. Overall, Hartford's defense held providence without a basket until nearly nine minutes had passed when Chanise Baldwin broke the drought.

The Friars would still only manage one more field goal, a jumper from New Britain, Conn. native Symone Roberts, through the first 16-plus minutes. That extended deficiency for Providence allowed Hartford to take a 27 point lead, the largest to that point, with 3:33 remaining. The largest Hartford lead came just over two minutes later following a three pointer from Shickora and a layup from Milana Gilbert broken up only by a free throw from Pearson. That string of baskets provided a 29 point cushion, 64-35.

Hartford will take to the road for their next two games first traveling to the Music City for a date with the Vanderbilt Commodores. The first ever match-up between the two teams will take place in Nashville on Thursday, December 6 at 7:00 p.m.