PHOTO GALLERY

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Senior Cherelle Moore matched her career high with 26 points and added 12 points for her second-straight double double to lead the University of Hartford women's basketball (8-8, 2-0 AE) team to a 59-44 win over the Binghamton Bearcats on Tuesday night. Moore's 26 points led all players in the game as she finished 12-of-19 from the field.

Joining Moore in leading the Hawks was freshman Janelle Harrison who finished one point shy of her first collegiate double double as she chipped in nine points and grabbed 11 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass. Her eight offensive rebounds were part of a season high 29 offensive rebounds which Hartford turned into 17 second chance points.

In addition to Harrison and Moore, sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza added eight points while leading the team for the 13th time this season with six assists, her eighth game of the year with five or more assists.

Defensively, Hartford held Binghamton to 44 points, a season low for all opponents in 2014-15, beating out the 46 points allowed against Vermont in the conference opener on Saturday. The Hawks defense also forced Binghamton into 22 turnovers while converting those take-a-ways into 21 points compared to just three points scored by the Bearcats on the Hawks seven turnovers. The seven miscues by Hartford is a season low.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

·        Senior Cherelle Moore collected her fourth double double of the season, and her second straight, dropping 26 points and collecting 12 rebounds. The 26 points for Moore matches her career high originally set earlier this season against Washington at the Cancun Challenge. The 12 rebounds for the senior post player is a season best and one shy of her career high. Moore finished the game making 12-of-19 field goal attempts, with the 12 made baskets also a career high.

·        Freshman Janelle Harrison also set a career high on Tuesday when she pulled down 11 rebounds to go along with nine points, finishing one shy of her first career double double. Eight of Harrison's 11 total rebounds came on the offensive glass, a season high in offensive rebounds for all Hawks.

·        Sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza added eight points and grabbed five rebounds while dishing out a team-high six assists, all of which came in the first half. The six assists for Mayza represent her eighth game of the season with five or more.

·        Overall, Hartford finished the game shooting 31.3 percent making 25 of their 80 field goal attempts. Moore's 12-of-19 from the field led the shooting efforts, while Harrison contributed a 4-of-10 effort.

·        Hartford forced Binghamton into 22 turnovers, which ties the most forced against an opponent in 2014-15. Off of those 22 turnovers Hartford scored 21 points, outscoring the Bearcats 21-3 on points off turnovers. The Hawks also committed a season low seven turnovers.

·        Overall, Hartford won the battle of the boards with a 53-44 advantage led by Moore's 12 and Harrison's 11. Twenty nine of the 53 rebounds came on the offensive end of the floor with the Hawks turning those into 17 second chance points. The 53 total rebounds is also a season best for the team, while the 29 offensive boards is the most for Hartford dating back to at least the 2001-02 season.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS

·        The Hawks closed out the opening half on a 10-0 run, leading to a 26-20 lead heading into the intermission. Junior Christie Michals began the run with a bank shot three pointer, while senior Shanise Bultron closed out the half with a three from the corner thanks to an assist from Deanna Mayza. Mayza and Cherelle Moore each added two points between those long range buckets.

·        Moore led the Hawks in the opening half with nine points, finishing 4-of-7 from the field. She also led the way with six rebounds.

·        As a team, Hartford took a 34-22 rebounding advantage into the locker room, including a season-high 20 offensive rebounds, passing the previous season best of 15.

·        Defensively, the Hawks forced Binghamton into 11 turnovers and turned those miscues into seven points while the Bearcats were unable to muster a point off of the Hawks four turnovers. The four turnovers in the first half for Hartford was a season low for the first 20 minutes.

·        Sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza finished the first half with six assists in the Hawks 10 total field goals. Her six assists in the opening half secure her eighth game of the season with five or more assists.

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS

·        The Hawks came out of the gates in the second half scoring eight of the first 10 points which resulted in the first double digit lead of the game, a 34-22 advantage with 17:05 remaining. Adding to the final 10 points of the first half , Hartford rattled off 14 straight points before allowing the Bearcats to add to their tally.

·        Included in those first eight points were six from senior Cherelle Moore who scored the Hawks first three baskets of the second half. Those six points added to her nine in the opening half secured the Bridgeport, Conn. natives 11th game of the season scoring in double figures. She would finish the final 20 minutes with 17 points, connecting on 8-of-12 from the field while also making her only attempt at the free throw line.

·        The Hawks best shooting of the game came in the second half as they made 15-of-36 attempts for 41.7 percent. Moore's 8-of-12 led the individual shooting while freshman Janelle Harrison added a 2-of-3 performance.

·        Hartford's largest lead of the game first came with 11 minutes remaining thanks to an old fashioned three point play from Moore who connected on a second chance basket and converted the and-on opportunity. The Hawks would match that lead on two more occasions including late in the contest following back-to-back baskets from Moore that capped off a 10-0 run and led to a 59-42 margin with 30 seconds remaining.  

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·        With back-to-back double doubles for senior forward Cherelle Moore she now has four on the season which ties her for the second most by an individual player in the America East this season.

·        Moore's 26 points tied her career high set earlier this season against Washington. She also set a new season best with her 12 rebounds.

·        Freshman forward Janelle Harrison also set a career high on Tuesday night when she pulled down 11 rebounds, four more than her previous high. She also finished one point shy of her first career double double.

·        Sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza dished out six assists, all of which came in the opening half. Those six assists represent her eight game of the season with five or more, while she has led the team 13 times.

·        The Hawks also tied a season high defensively as they forced the Bearcats into 22 turnovers. Off of those 22 turnovers, Hartford scored 21 points while giving up just three on a season low seven miscues.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·        SR Cherelle Moore matched her career high with 26 points as she closed out her second straight double double to lead the Hawks.

·        Freshman Janelle Harrison set a career high pulling down 11 rebounds, including a season best for all players with eight offensive boards.

·        The Hawks held their second straight opponent to a season low scoring output, allowing just 44 points against the Bearcats.

·        Sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza collected her eighth game of the season with five-plus assists, with six against Binghamton

·        The Hawks also forced the Bearcats into 22 turnovers, matching the season high from an opponent this season.

UP NEXT
The Hawks continue their 16-game conference schedule on Saturday afternoon when they welcome the Maine Black Bears to The Chase Family Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion. The Hawks and Black Bears are scheduled for a 2 p.m. tip off.