PHOTO GALLERY

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Hartford women's basketball team saw its season come to a close on Thursday night at the Chase Family Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion, dropping a 61-57 decision to the visiting Harvard Crimson in the opening round of the WNIT. Hartford was led by freshman Christie Michals who finished with 11 points.

Michals led a late charge by Hartford to erase an eight point deficit with a pair of three pointers in the final minute, but a put back lay-up, off her own missed shot, from the Crimson's Elle Hagedorn with eight seconds remaining sealed the game in favor of the visiting team. Joining Michals in leading Hartford in the game was senior Ruthanne Doherty who finished her final game in a Hartford uniform with 10 points.

Combined, Hartford finished the night shooting 40.7 percent from the field (22-of-54), while making 7-of-19 from beyond the three point arc. Michals led the team's shooting efforts individually with a 4-of-5 performance from the field, including making all but one of her attempts from beyond the three point arc.

Harvard was led by Victoria Lippert who finished with a game-high 19 points on 9-of-17 overall. Christine Clark also led the Crimson, finishing with a double double of 15 points and 10 rebounds. Clark led the teams shooting efforts making 7-of-10, while her team finished the night shooting 46.7 percent overall (28-of-60), including 57 percent in the second half (16-of-28).

The teams opened the contest trading points for the first five minutes, leading to the first of seven ties at 7-7. The Crimson would then score the next four points on back-to-back baskets from Clark and Lippert before Hartford responded by taking their first lead of the contest on a pair of three pointers hit end-to-end by Daphne Elliott and Shanise Bultron. The initial lead of the night came with 10:07 remaining before the intermission.

Following another five minute stretch of trading baskets, the Crimson began a straight of four-straight lead changes that eventually came to an end with a pair of 17 foot jump shots from senior Alex Hall that provided a 22-19 Hawks lead with 3:51 remaining in the half.

The Crimson would then respond with another lead change, this one courtesy of a layup and a free throw from Clark with 2:17 remaining. Michals answered that with her first three pointer of the night regaining a 27-26 advantage.

After the Crimson answered that with a jump shot from Jasmine Evans with 47 seconds remaining, the Hawks would get the final bucket of the half, a second three pointer from Bultron with 32 seconds remaining, providing a 30-28 halftime margin for Hartford.

The Crimson came out of the intermission scoring eight of the first nine points of the half, opening up a 36-31 lead, the largest for either team to that point. The Hawks responded by scoring 11 of the next 13 to regain a lead and take their largest advantage of the game 42-38 with 11:50 remaining. Included in the run was a pair of layups from Hall, while a three point play for Doherty provided the four point lead.

Hartford would match that lead three minutes later thanks to a three pointer from Amber Bepko, but the Crimson responded by scoring seven unanswered and taking a 51-47 lead they wouldn't relinquish. Lippert would close out that run for the Crimson with the last five points, including a three pointer, one of just two for Harvard.

With a layup from Doherty pulling Hartford within two, 53-51, with 3:38 remaining the Crimson began to put some space between the two squads scoring six straight and taking the largest lead of the night 59-51 with 1:13 remaining.

Hartford responded with a three pointer from Michals at the one minute mark before a turnover led to a second straight long ball from the rookie with 39 seconds remaining. The Crimson then held for a three point shot from Hagedorn as time expired on the shot clock. The senior guard followed her shot and took the rebound off the back iron and easily scored the put back that provided a four-point cushion with eight seconds remaining.

Hartford closes out the 2012-13 season with a 21-12 overall record, completing their seventh 20-win season in school history. The Hawks will lose four seniors to graduation; Nikkia Smith, Ruthanne Doherty, Alex Hall and Daphne Elliott.