Bepko was one of two Hawks to record double figures in the scoring column, joined just classmate Cherelle Moore who collected 10 points for the third-straight game. The pair combined to finished 9-of-13 from the field with Bepko firing from outside the arc, connecting on 3-of-6 from long range. As a team, Hartford finished the game shooting 39.6 percent on 21-of-53. The Hawks also made 9-of-16 (56.3) from three point territory and made all but one of their nine free throw attempts.

Freshman point guard Deanna Mayza also fared well for the Hawks, finishing one point shy of her third double double with nine points on 3-of-8 overall, including a perfect 2-of-2 from beyond the arc. Hartford also lost the battle of the boards with a 41-32 margin in favor of the visiting Minutewomen. Bepko also led the Hawks rebounding efforts with a career-best nine boards. Milana Gilbert finished seven with seven.

After a relatively slow start that included a combined five points in the first five-plus minutes, the Hawks began to pull ahead of the visitors building the largest lead of the contest at 20-8 with 8:44 remaining. A pair of three pointers from Bepko and freshman Morgan Lumb combined with a layup from rookie La'Trice Hall completed a seven point run and provided that advantage.

Hartford would keep a double digit lead for over two minutes before the Minutewomen used a pair of free throws from Jasmine Harris to break into single digits with 7:16 remaining. UMass would battle back to a three point deficit before Hartford regained an eight point advantage on a layup from Alyssa Reaves with 3:16 remaining. The Hawks took a 31-25 lead into the halftime intermission led by Bepko and Lumb who each finished with six.

Coming out of the intermission, the Minutewomen scored the first two buckets before Hartford used a 5-0 rally to gain a seven point lead with 16:59 remaining. That run included a three pointer from Bepko, a free throw form Gilbert and a three pointer from Mayza.

Hartford extended its lead to as much as eight on two occasions in the second half, the last of which came with 9:37 remaining in regulation courtesy of a jumper from Moore. UMass responded to that second eight point lead by scoring 11 straight to gain their first lead since the early minutes. The lead change came by way of a three pointer from Jasmine Harris, while a jump shot from Kim Pierre-Louis provided a four point lead with 5:39 remaining.

UMass would never relinquish that lead despite the Hawks threatening in the final minutes. After the Minutewomen built a six point lead, their largest, with 3:05 remaining, the Hawks held UMass to just a pair of free throws in the final 185 seconds.

In that span, Hartford brought the game within a two point differential thanks to back-to-back baskets from Bepko. An attempt at tying the game on a jump shot from Moore at the elbow with six seconds remaining was off the mark with Pierre-Louis pulling down a crucial rebound and sinking a pair of free throws putting the Hawks in a four point hole with two seconds remaining.

The Hawks will close out a two-game home stand on Tuesday night when they welcome fellow Nutmeg State rival Central Connecticut to the Chase Family Arena. Hartford and CCSU are scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off. Following that game, Hartford will travel to Miami for the Hurricanes' Thanksgiving Tournament against Missouri and either Miami or St. Francis (N.Y.).