PHOTO GALLERY

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Sophomore Deanna Mayza led all scorers with 19 points while dishing out six assists as the University of Hartford women's basketball team dropped a 65-63 decision to the visiting New Hampshire Wildcats on Wednesday night. Mayza's 19 points led three Hawks in double figures as she was joined by seniors Amber Bepko (15) and Cherelle Moore (13).

Of the three leading scorers, Bepko led the shooting efforts with a 5-of-9 performance from the field with four of those field goals from beyond the three point arc. As a team, Hartford finished the game shooting 38.6 percent on 22-of-57, while making nine three pointers in 23 attempts (39.1 percent). The Hawks also converted 10-of-12 attempts at the free throw line.

Defensively, Hartford forced the Wildcats into 19 turnovers and scored 24 points off of those New Hampshire mistakes. Leading the Hawks defensive efforts was Mayza and Bepko who each collected a pair of steals.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

·        Sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza led the team in scoring for the fourth time this season as she finished 7-of-16 overall, including 3-of-8 from beyond the arc, and converted both of her attempts at the free throw line for 19 points. This is Mayza's second straight game scoring in double figures while she also dished out six assists, the fifth straight game she has dished out five or more.

·        Seniors Amber Bepko and Cherelle Moore joined Mayza in leading Hartford with 15 and 13 points, respectively. All of Moore's 13 points came in the opening half as she missed just two of her seven field goal attempts in the first 20 minutes. Bepko's 15 points represent her 14th game of the season scoring in double figures, which ties Moore for the most on the team.

·        Defensively, Hartford forced New Hampshire into 19 turnovers, the second most the Hawks have forced in league play. Off of those 19 Wildcat mistakes, Hartford scored 24 points including netting 10 points off turnovers in the second half compared to just one for the Wildcats.

·        For the game, Hartford shot 38.6 percent, making 22-of-57 attempts from the field. Included in that total are nine three pointers, which ties the most the Hawks have converted in league play. From beyond the arc, Hartford finished 9-of-23 for 39.1 percent, while at the free throw line the Hawks missed just two of their 12 attempts for 83.3 percent.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS

·        Senior Cherelle Moore closed out the opening half with a game-high 13 points making 5-of-7 field goal attempts and 3-of-4 at the free throw line. Moore also led all players with five rebounds. The 13 points marks her 14th game of the season in double figures.

·        Hartford erased its largest deficit of 10 points using a pair of runs that totaled a 9-3 stretch. The first of those runs was capped off by a three pointer from Shanise Bultron as the Hawks finished the opening half 4-of-9 from beyond the arc.

·        Defensively, Hartford forced New Hampshire into nine turnovers and turned those Wildcat mistakes into 14 points.

·        Joining Moore in leading the Hawks in the scoring column was Amber Bepko and Deanna Mayza who finished with nine and seven points, respectively. Combined, Bepko and Mayza finished the half shooting 6-of-11 overall, including hitting a trio of three point attempts.

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS

·        The Hawks came out of the locker room looking to score right off the opening whistle, tying the game at 42 just over two minutes into the action. That tie, the fourth of the game, came following back-to-back three pointers from Morgan Lumb and Amber Bepko, which forced the Wildcats to call timeout.

·        Following a New Hampshire three pointer coming out of that early UNH timeout, the Hawks used back-to-back baskets from Lumb and freshman Janelle Harrison to take their first lead in the second half, a 46-45 advantage with 15:48 remaining. The second half saw a total of four ties and six lead changes.

·        Deanna Mayza led all scorers in the second half as she scored 12 of her game-high 19 points over the final 20 minutes. Lumb (seven points), Bepko (six) and Harrison (four) would be the only other Hawks to score in the second half.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·        Sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza's 19 points, which led Hartford in scoring, represent her 11th game this season scoring in double figures, while she has led the team on four occasions. Her six assists is the 12th time this season that she has dished out five or more, while she has led the team 17 times, in 20 total games.

·        The double figure outings for seniors Amber Bepko (15 points) and Cherelle Moore (13) are the 14th time each has scored in double figures, which is tied for the most by a single player this season.

·        Defensively, Hartford forced UNH into 19 turnovers which is the second most the Hawks have forced against a league opponent.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·        Deanna Mayza led all players with 19 points, her second straight game in double figures.

·        Hartford forced New Hampshire into 19 turnovers, second most in league play, and scored 24 points off of those mistakes.

·        Seniors Amber Bepko and Cherelle Moore finished in double figures for the 14th time this season, which leads the team.

UP NEXT
The Hawks will close out the first half of the America East schedule on the road where they will meet Albany and Stony Brook. The Hawks begin a two-game road swing on Sunday, January 25 against the currently undefeated in league play (5-0) Albany Great Danes. Tip off at SEFCU Arena is scheduled for 2 p.m.