WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Cherelle Moore, Amber Bepko and Morgan Lumb combined for 38 second half points to lead the University of Hartford women's basketball team to a 59-55 win over the Savannah State Lady Tigers in the consolation game of the Fordham Holiday Classic. Moore, who averaged 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds over the two-game tournament, was named to the All-Tournament Team, her second such honor this season.

Moore led seven Hartford (6-8 overall) players with 17 points, making all but one of her seven field goal attempts and also connecting on 5-of-6 at the free throw line. She also led the team with nine rebounds, one shy of her third double double of the season. Her nine rebounds led Hartford to a 35-29 rebounding edge over the Lady Tigers.

As a team, Hartford finished the game shooting 43.5 percent on 20-of-46 overall. Included in that total was the Hawks second straight game shooting 50 percent or better in the second half when they connected on 13-of-25 for 52 percent. For the game, the Hawks made 6-of-26 (23.1 percent) from beyond the three point arc while also making 13-of-21 free throw attempts for 61.9 percent.

Joining Moore in leading the Hawks scoring was both Lumb and Bepko who finished with 15 and 14 points, respectively. The pair also combined for five of the team's six total three pointers. In addition to Bepko's 14 points she added eight rebounds while Lumb dished out four assists and grabbed three steals. Sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza led the Hawks with seven assists, while grabbing six rebounds.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

·        Senior forward Cherelle Moore scored in double figures for the eighth time and led the team in scoring for the sixth time, finishing with a team-high 17 points to lead the Hawks. Moore also led the team's rebounding efforts, finishing one board shy of a doube double with nine. Moore finished the game shooting 6-of-7 from the field, while also making 5-of-6 at the free throw line.

·        After averaging 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds over the two games of the Fordham Holiday Classic, Moore earned her second All-Tournament distinction of the season, adding to the one earned at the Cancun Challenge over Thanksgiving.

·        Joining Moore in leading the team was senior Amber Bepko and sophomore Morgan Lumb who finished with 14 and 15 points, respectively. The trio combined to score 38 of the team's 40 second half points to lead the way in erasing a 16 point first half deficit and earn the 59-55 victory in the final non-conference game of the season.

·        As a team, Hartford finished the game shooting 43.5 percent on 20-of-46, including the second-straight game shooting 50 percent or better in the second half, 13-of-25 (52 percent).

·        Sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza led all players in the game with seven assists, her seventh time this season with five or more assists. It is also the 10th time this season she has led the team in assists.

·        In addition to scoring in double figures, Bepko also finished with eight rebounds, a season high. Lumb also added to her double figures in the scoring column by dishing out four assists and collecting a team-high three steals.

·        Included in Moore's team high nine rebounds were five offensive boards, part of 11 total for the team. Off of those 11 offensive rebounds, the Hawks scored 14 second chance points, compared to eight for the Lady Tigers.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS

·        Sophomore guard Deanna Mayza led five Hawks with five points in the first 20 minutes. She also added a pair of rebounds and an assist.

·        Joining her in leading the team was four players who all chipped in four points including senior Cherelle Moore who added four rebounds and a pair of blocks to her credit. Freshman Darby Lee and sophomore Morgan Lumb joined Moore with four points.

·        The Hawks closed out the opening half scoring the final six points, all by the freshman class. Janelle Harrison opened that rally with a pair of free throws, while Lee added the final four points on a layup and 2-of-4 at the free throw line.

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS

·        Three Hawks combined to score 38 of the 40 total second half points for the Hawks. Leading the way was senior Amber Bepko who scored all 14 of her points in the second half, making 4-of-9 field goal attempts, including 3-of-7 from beyond the three point arc. She also finished the second half 3-of-4 at the free throw line.  

·        In addition to Bepko, senior Cherelle Moore and sophomore Morgan Lumb added 13 and 11 second half points, respectively. Moore missed just one of her five second half field goal attempts, while she also went 5-of-6 at the free throw line.

·        The Hawks first cut the Lady Tigers deficit to a single possession when they rattled of eight unanswered points early in the second half. The last two baskets of the run came as three pointers from Bepko and Lumb with the latter leading to a 33-31 deficit with 15:40 remaining.

·        It was the Hawks defense late in the game that helped lead to their first lead of the afternoon with 2:10 remaining on a layup from Moore. Over the final 6:30 of the contest, the Hawks held Savannah State to just two field goals, while outscoring the Lady Tigers 16-6.

·        Moore's go-ahead bucket came as part of a 7-0 momentum changing run. The rally, which took a total of 82 seconds, started with a layup from Bepko, while the senior guard added a three pointer with 1:28 remaining that gave the Hawks a 57-53 lead.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·        Senior Cherelle Moore's team-high 17 points represented her eighth time scoring in double figures and the sixth time she has led the team in scoring. She also led the way in rebounding for the ninth time, finishing one board shy of her third double double.

·        Sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza closed out her seventh game of the season with five-plus assists, leading both teams with a game-high seven. She also added five points and six rebounds.

·        Morgan Lumb (15 points) and Amber Bepko (14) joined Moore in double figures, which was the fifth time this season that three or more players have finished with 10 or more points.

·        Included in Moore's team-high nine rebounds were five offensive boards, leading Hartford to 11 total which was turned into 14 second chance points. As a team, Hartford finished with a 35-29 advantage on the boards.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·        Three Hawks combined for 38 of the 40 second half points as the Hawks outscored Savannah State 40-26 in the second half.

·        Senior Cherelle Moore led the team in scoring for the sixth time (17 points) and rebounding (9 boards) for the ninth time.

·        Sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza finished with a game-high seven assists, her seventh time with five-plus assists.

·        The Hawks erased as much as a 16 point deficit to earn their sixth victory, closing out the non-league schedule with a 6-8 record.

UP NEXT
The Hawks shift gears and begin to build an America East Conference record when they travel to Burlington, Vt. to open league play against the Vermont Catamounts. The league opener for both squads will come just after the New Year on Saturday, January 3. Opening tip between the Hawks and Catamounts is scheduled for 2 p.m.