PHOTO GALLERY

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Senior's Nikkia Smith and Alex Hall combined to lead the Hawks with 27 total points as they dropped a 45-39 decision at home against the Boston University Terriers. Smith led all Hartford (9-6 overall, 0-2 America East) players with 16 points, while Hall chipped in 11.

In addition to Smith and Hall only two additional Hawks provided scoring with fellow classmate Daphne Elliott and junior Taylor Clark joining in. Elliott finished with eight points, while Clark added four. Hartford did win the battle of the boards for the second straight game this time by a 38-31 margin. Smith and Clark led the way with nine rebounds each, with that equaling a career-high for Smith and setting a new career mark for Clark. In addition, Clark's four points off the bench for Hartford were the only score by either team's bench.

As a team, Hartford shot 30.6 percent from the field (15-of-49), including making just 5-of-23 first half field goals (21.7 percent). The Hawks shooting struggles were highlighted by their three point performance where they made just one of 10 attempts with the lone make from long range coming from Hall. It is the second straight game that Hartford has held an opponent to 46 or fewer point but fell victim due to cold shooting.

The Terriers finished the contest shooting 35.4 percent (17-of-48) and were led by junior Rashidat Agboola who finished with a career-high 26 points on 11-of-21 from the field and 4-of-5 at the free throw line.

Both teams came out of the gates scoring on their first possessions with Agboola and Smith starting the scoring for their respective squads. Following those two opening buckets, the Terriers scored a three pointer from Kristen Sims 69 seconds into the game and never trailed from that point on. They would extend that early advantage to 9-4 with 15:28 to play on back-to-back baskets from Agboola and Chantell Alford.

Following those two baskets, both teams scored a total of three times over the next 10 minutes leading to an 11-8 Boston University advantage with 5:08 remaining before halftime. Over the final five minutes of the half the teams combined for 13 points and an eventual halftime split of 19-13 in favor of the visitors.

The Terriers largest lead of the first half came on four-straight points, the final two of which came on a layup from Agboola with 2:46 remaining in the half. That basket was the final points of the half to BU and the final field goal for either team. The Hawks final points in the half came on a pair of free throws from Smith with 1:59 remaining before the buzzer.

Coming out of the locker room the teams again traded baskets on their first two possessions, this time with Whitney Turner scoring first for BU and Elliott matching her bucket. The Terriers would then score the next four points and open up their first double digit lead of the game 25-15 with 18:20 remaining.

Hartford responded to that double digit deficit by scoring seven straight points and pulling within three, 25-22. It was the closest the Hawks would come for the remainder of the contest. The seven points for Hartford came from three different players as Smith, Clark and Elliott all provided offense.

Boston University answered that Hawks run by scoring five straight before the team again traded hoops ending with a 33-24 advantage for the Terriers. Hartford again began a come-back, this time scoring four straight to pull within five, 33-28, with 10:41 remaining.

Following a jump shot from Smith with 7:54 remaining, the Terriers again managed a double digit advantage when they scored back-to-back baskets from Sims and Agboola that provided a 41-31 cushion. The Hawks responded by scoring five straight of their own, including the only three pointer of the game for Hartford, coming from Hall. That run pulled Hartford within five 41-36 with 4:42 remaining.

The teams would then combine for just two more baskets total with the other three points in the game scored at the free throw line. Hartford's final field goal came as a turnaround jumper from Smith with 3:02 remaining that pulled Hartford within two scored, 42-38.

The Terriers saw their final field goal come with 2:38 remaining on a layup from Agboola, also representing the final field goal of the contest. The final two points came on 1-of-2 performances at the free throw line by the Terriers Alford and the Hawks Hall.

Hartford returns to the road for its next game when they travel to Orono, Maine for a date with the Black Bears. Hartford and Maine are scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tip at Alfond Arena on Wednesday, January 9.