ALBANY, N.Y. – Senior Amber Bepko led eight Hawks scorers as the University of Hartford women's basketball team dropped an 82-58 decision on the road at Albany on Sunday afternoon. Joining Bepko in leading Hartford was sophomore Alyssa Reaves who finished with 12 points, a season high.

The Hawks finished the game shooting 42.6 percent for the game, making 23-of-54 attempts from the field. Included were seven three pointers, which came on 21 attempts for an average of 33.3 percent. Of the two leading scorers, Reaves shooting led the way as she connected on 5-of-9 from the field, while Bepko finished 5-of-14 overall.

Reaves also led Hartford in the rebounding battle as she finished with five boards. The Hawks also combined for 15 assists among their 23 total field goals led by sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza who finished with five, her sixth straight game dishing out five or more. In addition to Mayza, freshman Janelle Harrison dished out four assists, a career high.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

·        Senior Amber Bepko finished in double figures for a team-high 15th time this season, chipping in 14 points including 11 in the opening half. For the game, Bepko finished 5-of-14 from the field with four of those field goals from beyond the arc. She also grabbed four rebounds, dished out a pair of assists, and grabbed two steals.

·        Sophomore Alyssa Reaves was the only other Hawk to finish in double figures as she finished with 12 points, a season-high. Reaves finished the game making 5-of-9 attempts from the field, while also leading the team with five rebounds.

·        Sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza dished out a team-high five assists, her sixth straight game in doubles figures. With those five assists, Mayza is tied for eighth all-time in school history with 115.

·        Freshman post Janelle Harrison finished just behind Mayza in the assists column as she passed out four, a career-high. She also added five points to the Hawks efforts.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS

·        Hartford was led in the opening half by senior Amber Bepko who finished with 11 points, making half of her eight attempts from the field, three of which came from beyond the three point arc.

·        The Hawks erased an early 20-6 deficit by scoring 12 points, in a stretch of 16 total, including ending that stretch on a 6-0 run that pulled the Hawks within six, 24-18. The first two baskets in that stretch both came from beyond the arc and both off the hands of Shanise Bultron.

·        Hartford then used a 13-0 run that lasted just under four minutes to take their first lead of the game 31-28 with 2:48 remaining. That run tipped off with a put back layup from sophomore Alyssa Reaves while Bepko closed out the stretch with five straight points on a three pointer and a jumper that came 41 seconds apart.

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS

·        Coming out of the break, Hartford erased a three point halftime deficit by scoring the first four points of the half to take a 36-35 advantage. Those first two baskets came in the paint as freshman Cassidy Bundy and Janelle Harrison both provided layup field goals.

·        With just under four minutes played in the second half, the Hawks began another run, this time scoring nine unanswered points to take a 47-44 lead with 14:02 remaining. The total stretch took the Hawks 2:08. The first two baskets came on layups from freshman Darby Lee. The final basket in the run came from beyond the three point arc off the fingertips of senior Amber Bepko.

·        Hartford finished with a 20-15 advantage on the boards over the final 20 minutes of the game. Sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza led the Hawks with four boards in the second half, while also dishing out three assists.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·        Sophomore Deanna Mayza recorded her sixth-straight game with five or more assists, finishing with five against the Great Danes. Overall, Mayza has dished out five or more helpers in 13 games while leading the team in that category 18 times.

·        Senior Amber Bepko scored in double figures a team-high 15th time, scoring 14 points on 5-of-14 from the field including four three pointers.

·        The Hawks finished the game shooting 42.6 percent overall on 23-of-54 from the field. This is the fifth game, in the seven league contests, that Hartford has closed out the game shooting 40 percent or better.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·        SR guard Amber Bepko led the team in scoring for a team-high ninth time as she finished with 14 points against Albany.

·        Hartford dished out 15 assists over their 23 made field goals, led by sophomore Deanna Mayza who finished with six.

·        Freshman Cassidy Bundy started her first career game at Albany and finished with seven pints, one shy of her career best.

UP NEXT
The Hawks close out the first half of the America East schedule on Thursday, January 29 when they travel to the newly reconstructed Island Federal Credit Union Arena to face the Stony Brook Seawolves. Hartford and Stony Brook are scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip off in a game that will air live on ESPN3 as part of the America East's television package.