PHOTO GALLERY
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Senior guard Amber Bepko collected her third 20 point game of the season leading the University of Hartford women's basketball team in a 73-61 loss to visiting Boston College on Sunday afternoon. Bepko finished the game with 20 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals, leading the way in all four categories.
Joining Bepko in leading the Hawks was sophomore Morgan Lumb who finished with a season-high 16 points, one shy of her career high set as a freshman. Nine of Lumb's 16 points came in the opening half as she led the team with nine points on 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. As a team, Hartford shot 29.3 percent overall on 17-of-58, including making 11-of-32 attempts from beyond the arc for 34.4 percent. The Hawks also finished 16-of-22 at the free throw line for 72.7 percent.
Bepko's six rebounds tied Lumb for the team high, while as a team Hartford finished with 36 total rebounds compared to 45 for the Eagles. Bepko was also one of two players who finished with 5-plus assists with her six tying a career-high last achieved in February 2013 against Maine. Joining her in leading the Hawks in helpers was sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza who finished with five, her fifth game of the season with five or more. As a team, Hartford finished with 15 assists on their 17 total buckets.
Defensively, Hartford forced the Eagles into 22 turnovers, converting those BC miscues into 20 points. Bepko's three steals led six different players in that category while Lumb joined her in leading the way with two take-a-ways.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
· Senior Amber Bepko collected her third 20-point game, leading the Hawks in scoring (20), rebounds (6), assists (6) and steals (3). For the game, the guard from Greenwich, Conn. finished 5-of-16 overall, including 4-of-13 from beyond the three point arc. She was also 6-of-7 at the free throw line. Her six assists tied her career-high while her six rebounds set a new season best.
· Sophomore guard Morgan Lumb joined Bepko in leading the Hawks scoring efforts with a season-high 16 points, her first game of the year in double figures, and one point shy of her career best. Nine of her 16 points came in the opening half as she led the Hawks in the first 20 minutes shooting 3-of-4 from long range. Lumb also joined Bepko in leading the team with six rebounds, which ties her career high set as a freshman.
· As a team, Hartford saw its best shooting come from beyond the arc where they finished with a season-high 11 three pointers in 32 attempts for 34.4 percent. The 11 made three pointers was three more than the previous season high of eight set against Washington and Florida State.
· Bepko was one of two players to finish with five-plus assists with her six tying her career-high and leading the team. Joining her in leading the way was sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza who finished with five, her fifth game of the season with five or more. As a team, Hartford finished with 15 assists on their 17 total field goals.
FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS
· Sophomore guard Morgan Lumb came off the bench to lead the Hawks in the opening half with nine points, all on three pointers as she finished 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Her nine first half points set a season-high.
· The Hawks opened up the game scoring seven of the first nine points to take the early 7-2 lead with 16:14 remaining in the opening period. Senior Cherelle Moore scored the first four points of the game while classmate Shanise Bultron added the game's first three-pointer, which provided the five point edge.
SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS
· Senior guard Amber Bepko led all players in the second half with 17 points, finishing 4-of-10, including 3-of-8 from three, over the final 20 minutes.
· A three pointer from Morgan Lumb followed by a pair of free throws from Bepko provided five unanswered points with 13 minutes remaining as the Hawks cut the BC lead to 10 for the first time in the second half.
· With five minutes remaining in the game, the Hawks rattled off eight unanswered points for their longest rally of the afternoon, cutting the Eagles lead as close as they would get, nine, with 3:03 remaining. Bepko and Deanna Mayza each drained three pointers in the rally while Lumb provided the other two points on a jumper.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
· Senior Amber Bepko's 20 points led the Hawks and was her team-leading third game of the season with 20 or more points. She finished the game with five field goals including four three pointers while missing just one of her six free throw attempts.
· Overall, Bepko led the Hawks in four categories including her 20 points which went along with six rebounds, six assists and three steals. The only category she didn't lead the team in was blocks, which was led by freshman Mary Pattison who finished with two.
· As a team, Hartford saw its best shooting come from beyond the three point arc where they finished with a season-high 11 three pointers, three more than the previous season best of eight set against Washington and Florida State, both at the Cancun Challenge.
TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)
· Senior Amber Bepko led Hartford with her third 20 point game of the season, finishing with 20 to go along with 6 rebounds and 6 assists.
· Sophomore Morgan Lumb added a season-high 16 points, including nine in the first half as she finished 3-of-4 all from beyond the arc
· Lumb and Bepko also led the team with 6 rebounds each, while Bepko added a team-bests with six assists and three steals
UP NEXT
The Hawks continue their homestand on Wednesday evening when they welcome the Penn State Lady Lions to West Hartford. Penn State is second of two opponents that Hawks will play this season who advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year, falling to Stanford in the Sweet 16. Hartford and Penn State are scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip off.
