PHOTO GALLERY

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza scored a career-high 25 points, leading the University of Hartford women's basketball team to a 62-57 win over the Big Ten's Penn State Lady Lions. Hartford (4-6) led wire-to-wire for the second time this season, building as much as a 24 point lead in the second half, the largest lead for the Hawks this season.

Mayza's 25 points came on a career-high six three points in eight attempts, finishing the night 6-of-10 overall. She also added seven points at the free throw line, connecting on all but one of her eight attempts. Joining Mayza in leading Hartford was senior Cherelle Moore who finished with 14 points on 7-of-15 from the field.

As a team, Hartford finished the night shooting 40.4 percent overall (19-of-47), while matching the season high with 11 three pointers, originally set last game against Boston College. The Hawks 11 three pointers came on 23 attempts for a season-high 47.8 percent. Hartford also finished 13-of-18 at the free throw line for 72.2 percent.

Moore also led Hartford with eight rebounds and three steals while classmate Amber Bepko dished out a team-best four assist while finishing with six points, four rebounds and a steal. Penn State finished with a 39-28 advantage in rebounding.
 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

·        Sophomore Deanna Mayza increased her career-high to 25 points to lead all scorers in a 62-57 win over Big Ten opponent Penn State, snapping a six-game skid for the Hawks. Mayza led all scorers in the opening half with 13 points, finishing a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes. For the game, Mayza finished 6-of-10 overall with all six baskets from beyond the three point line. She also added seven free throws in eight attempts.

·        Senior forward Cherelle Moore joined Mayza in double figures with 14 points making 7-of-15 attempts from the field. She also led the team with eight rebounds while dishing out three assists and collecting three steals, which also led the team.

·        Hartford led the game from start to finish for the second time this season with the first wire-to-wire victory also coming at home against Providence. Overall, Hartford led for 38:42 with the first 1:18 of the game a scoreless tie. The Hawks would open up the game on a 10-2 run and never look back. Six of the 10 points came on two three pointers from Mayza, while a pair of baskets from Moore provided the other four points.

·        As a team, Hartford combined for 11 three pointers, matching the season high from beyond the arc originally set last game against Boston College. Leading the way individually was Mayza who finished 6-of-8 from beyond the arc, a career-high from long range for the sophomore guard.

·        Hartford took a 20 point lead into the halftime break, the largest lead at half this season. In the opening 20 minutes the Hawks shot 42.9 percent (12-of-28), while making 6-of-12 (50 percent) from beyond the arc and made 8-of-10 at the free throw line.

·        The Hawks largest lead of the game came with 17:03 remaining in the second half, a 24-point advantage thanks to a three pointer from senior Shanise Bultron, which came off a feed from Mayza.
 

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS

·        Two Hawks finished in double figures in the first 20 minutes, leading Hartford to a 20-point, 38-18, lead at the break against the Lady Lions. Leading the way was sophomore Deanna Mayza who finished with 13 points going a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the three point arc and also didn't miss an attempt at the free throw line in four tries. Senior Cherelle Moore added 10 points on 5-of-9 in the opening half.

·        Hartford built its largest halftime lead of the season thanks in part to a seven point rally all provided by Mayza. The point guard began the streak with a three pointer, her third of the game, and followed that by sinking four straight free throw attempts. That seven point rally took just 61 seconds.

·        The Hawks largest lead in the opening half came with just under 30 seconds remaining as Amber Bepko capped off an 11-2 run with the second of two-straight three pointers. Sophomore Morgan Lumb provided the first of the three's while she also added two free throws in the run for a total of five of the 11 points.
 

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS

·        Hartford came out of the intermission to score eight of the first 12 points to take their largest lead of the contest less than three minutes into the final period. Six of the first eight points came from beyond the three point arc with Deanna Mayza opening the half with her fourth long range basket 14 seconds into the action. Shanise Bultron provided the second three pointer off a feed from Mayza.

·        Three pointers from Mayza and Amber Bepko five minutes into the half provided Hartford with another 22 point lead. A layup from the Lady Lions Candice Agee broke up those two long range buckets with the latter coming from Bepko with 14:29 remaining in the game.

·        Hartford would convert 4-of-6 at the free throw line in the final three minutes of the game to secure their fourth victory of the season. Included was a critical 2-of-2 effort from Mayza with 39 seconds remaining that gave the Hawks a nine point edge, 61-52.
 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·        Sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza completed the third 20-point game of her career to lead all players with a career-high 25 points. Included was another career-high for the Pennsburg, Pa. native, that coming from beyond the three point arc where she made 6-of-8 attempts, soaring past her previous career-high of three against Vermont (3.1.14).

·        Mayza's six three pointers were part of 11 total for Hartford, matching their season-high from beyond the three-point arc. The 11 three pointers is the second-straight game the Hawks have recorded double digit three pointers as they finished 11-of-32 against Boston College.

·        Cherelle Moore's 14 total points were her seventh game of the season, and seventh in the last eight, that she has scored in double figures. She also led the team in rebounding for the seventh time and recorded season highs with three assists and three steals.

·        The 11 total three pointers for Hartford came on 23 attempts which amounted to a season-best 47.8 percent from beyond the arc.

·        As a team, Hartford finished with 13 assists in 19 total field goals, led by senior Amber Bepko who finished with four followed by Moore's three.
 

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·        Sophomore Deanna Mayza drained a career-high 25 points, three more than her previous career best of 22.

·        Mayza also finished with a career-high six three pointers, in eight attempts, part of 11 total for Hartford, matching the team's season high.

·        Joining Mayza in leading the team was SR Cherelle Moore who finished with 14 points, her 7th game in the last 8 in double figures.

·        Moore also led Hartford in rebounding for the seventh time with eight rebounds while adding three assists and three steals.
 

UP NEXT
The Hawks continue their four-game homestand over the weekend when they host a fellow Nutmeg State team, Sacred Heart University. The Hawks and Pioneers are scheduled for a 2 p.m. tip off on Sunday, December 10, in what serves as the Hawks annual Alumnae Day. During the game, Hartford will honor its first Division I team (1984-85) and the 10 year anniversary of the 2004-05 America East Championship Team.