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WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Hartford women's basketball team improved to 2-0 on the young season posting a 75-63 road victory against the Central Connecticut Blue Devils (1-1) on Monday night. Leading Hartford was senior guard Amber Bepko who compiled the first 20 point game of the season, missing just one of seven field goal attempts.

As a team, Hartford finished the game shooting 49.0 percent from the field on 24-of-49, while making 7-of-18 attempts from beyond the three point arc. The Hawks also made 20-of-30 free throw attempts. Bepko's 6-of-7 shooting wasn't the only hot hand of the night as freshman Janelle Harrison (3-of-3), sophomore Alyssa Reaves (2-of-2) and senior Katie Roth (2-of-2) finished without missing an attempt. Overall, all 10 of the Hartford players who saw time in the game scored at least four points.

The Hawks trailed CCSU in the battle of the boards, finishing with a 36-34 margin. Leading the Hawks for the second-straight game was senior Cherelle Moore who finished with eight boards, while Harrison added five. All 10 of the Hawks finished with a least one rebound, while all but one of the 10 dished out at least one assist as Hartford combined for 16 total helpers. Sophomore's Deanna Mayza and Morgan Lumb each led the team with four assists, while Mayza joined Bepko in leading the team with four steals apiece.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS 

·        Senior Amber Bepko scored the first 20 point game of the season, finishing 6-of-7 from the field, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc to lead all players in the game. Bepko's 20 point game is the fifth of her career. She also finished 5-of-6 at the free throw line, while adding three rebounds and four steals.

·        Sophomore Deanna Mayza joined Bepko in double figures, finishing with 10 points for her second straight game with 10 or more points. Mayza also tied Bepko for the team lead in steals (4), while dishing out a team-high four assists.

·        As a team, Hartford finished the game shooting 49 percent on 24-of-49 from the field. The 49 percent effort is the best shooting performance for the Hawks since December 9, 2012 when they shot 55.6 percent (30-of-54) against Dartmouth. The Hawks also finished tonight's game making 7-of-18 three point attempts (38.9 percent) and 20-of-30 at the free throw line (66.7 percent).

·        All 10 of the Hartford players who saw time in the game scored at least four points, while all 10 also grabbed at least one rebound.

·        The Hawks finished just behind CCSU in the battle of the boards with a final tally of 36-34. Leading the Hawks for the second straight game was senior Cherelle Moore who finished tonight's battle with eight boards. Freshman Janelle Harrison was second on the team with five rebounds while also scoring six points on a perfect 3-of-3 from the field.

·        Senior Katie Roth made her return to the court, finishing with four points on a perfect 2-of-2 from the floor. She also grabbed one rebound, dished out an assist, grabbed a steal and blocked one shot.

·        As a team, Hartford finished with 16 assists led by Mayza and classmate Morgan Lumb who each finished with four. Overall, all but one player finished with at least one assist.
 

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS 

·        Senior Amber Bepko led the Hawks in the opening half with eight points, hitting all three of her field goal attempts, including a pair of three point attempts.

·        Bepko was one of two Hawks who finished perfect from the field in the first 20 minutes with freshman Janelle Harrison also going 3-of-3, finishing with six points.

·        As a team, Hartford finished the first half shooting 48.5 percent overall on 16-of-33, while making four of 11 three point attempts for 36.4 percent. Hartford also led the rebounding battle with a 19-18 edge, led by senior Cherelle Moore who finished with seven. Harrison grabbed five.

·        The first seven Hartford baskets came from different players as the Hawks opened up a 16-11 edge with just about eight minutes having passed. The Hawks largest lead of the first half came with under a minute left as Moore hit 1-of-2 free throws giving Hartford the first double digit edge, 37-27.
 

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS 

·        After the Blue Devils tied the score at 37 in the early minutes of the second half, Hartford went on a 7-0 run to regain the lead and never looked back. The run included a three pointer from Morgan Lumb and four-straight points from Amber Bepko.  

·        The Hawks then held CCSU without a field goal for a stretch that lasted more than seven minutes, which allowed the Hawks to break open a 19 point lead, thanks to a 13-0 run. Over the full seven minute span, Hartford outscored the Blue Devils 19-4. During the 13 point rally, Hartford was led by Bepko and Deanna Mayza who each contributed five points. Mayza and Bepko each hit a three pointer in the rally, while senior Shanise Bultron also provided a three point play the old fashioned way.

·        Despite being held without a field goal over the final five minutes, the Hawks converted at the free throw line as they made 10 in the final four minutes to secure the victory. In that stretch, Mayza and Cherelle Moore each hit 3-of-4 at the line, while freshman Mary Pattison converted 2-of-2 with three seconds remaining which provided the final margin, 75-63.

·        Bepko and Mayza led Hartford's scoring efforts in the second half with the senior scoring 12 of her 20 points in the final 20 minutes and Mayza scoring eight of her 10 total points in the second half.
 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

·        Senior Amber Bepko finished with 20 points to lead the Hawks. Her 20 point performance is the first of the season for Hartford and the fifth of the senior guard's career.

·        Bepko finished the game shooting 6-of-7 from the field for an 86 percent effort. Included was a 3-of-4 performance beyond the three point line, while she also finished 5-of-6 at the free throw line.

·        Hartford played 10 total Hawks against CCSU with all 10 scoring at least four points and grabbing at least one rebound.

·        Hartford finished the game with 16 assists in their 24 total baskets, led by sophomores Deanna Mayza and Morgan Lumb who each finished with four. In total, nine of the 10 Hawks finished with at least one helper.
 

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less) 

·        Senior Amber Bepko completed the first 20 point performance of the season shooting 6-7 from the field, including 3-4 from beyond the arc.

·        As a team, the Hawks shot 49 percent overall 24-of-49, which is the best shooting effort since December 2012 against Dartmouth (55.6%).

·        In addition to Bepko's hot shooting, three other Hawks finished without missing a FG attempt, FR Janelle Harrison (3-3), SO Alyssa Reaves (2-2) and SR Katie Roth (2-2)

·        Senior Cherelle Moore led Hartford's rebounding efforts for the second straight game, grabbing eight against the Blue Devils.
 

UP NEXT
The Hawks open a 13-game home schedule on Thursday night when they welcome the Providence Friars to the Chase Family Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion. Hartford and Providence are scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip off in what is the only home game in the month of November for Hartford.