PHOTO GALLERY

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Senior Amber Bepko pulled in her first career double double with team-highs in points (16) and  rebounds (11), leading the University of Hartford women's basketball team in a 65-50 loss against the visiting Albany Great Danes. Bepko's 11 rebounds is a career-high as she grabbed double digit boards for the first time in her career.

Joining Bepko in leading the Hawks was classmate Cherelle Moore who finished with 11 points and one rebound shy of a double double. Of the two leading scorers, Bepko led the way from the field as she finished 6-of-9 overall, including 2-of-5 from beyond the three point arc. She also converted her two free throw attempts.

As a team, Hartford finished the game shooting 38.9 percent overall on 21-of-54, while making 5-of-18 three point attempts (27.8 percent), with all five coming in the second half. The Hawks also finished 3-of-4 at the free throw line. Leading Hartford's outside shooting efforts was sophomore Morgan Lumb who finished 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, with nine points total.

Bepko's 11 rebounds were part of 33 total for the team, as the Hawks trailed the Great Danes by just two rebounds overall. Included in Hartford's 33 rebounds were 11 on the offensive end of the floor, which the Hawks turned into 14 second chance points. Hartford also combined for 13 assists, led by sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza who finished with five, her 17th game of the season with five-plus.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

·       Senior guard Amber Bepko finished with team highs in points (16) and rebounds (11), completing her first collegiate double double. Bepko's 11 rebounds are a new career-high for the Guilford, Conn. native who finished the game shooting 6-of-9 from the field, including a pair of three pointers.

·       Bepko was one of two Hawks who finished in double figures as classmate Cherelle Moore finished with 11 points as she fell just one rebound shy of a double double.

·       Sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza led the Hawks with five of Hartford 13 total assists, her 17th game of the season with five or more assists and the 12th time she has led the team in assists.

·       As a team, the Hawks finished with 33 total rebounds, two shy of the Great Danes. Included in those 33 boards were 11 offensive rebounds, which Hartford turned into 14 seconds chance points, outmatching the Great Danes 14-11 in that category.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS

·       Hartford and Albany traded baskets for the first five-plus minutes, with the game tied three times in that stretch at two, four, and six, before the Great Danes pulled ahead for good.

·       Senior Amber Bepko led Hartford in points and rebounds in the opening half, finishing with seven and six, respectively.

·       Hartford outrebounded the Great Danes 16-15 in the first half, led by Bepko's seven boards. Four other players chipped in rebounds in the opening half, including two each from Cherelle Moore, Darby Lee and Shanise Bultron.

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS

·       After the Great Danes opened the second half with a three pointer, Hartford responded with a 9-0 stretch that pulled the game within a single possession, 30-27, with 16:02 remaining. The first three points in that stretch came from senior Cherelle Moore on a free throw and a layup, while sophomore Morgan Lumb and senior Amber Bepko followed with three pointers, the first of the game for the Hawks.

·       Hartford again pulled the game within a single possession at 38-35 with 12:51 remaining as Lumb and Bepko again went back-to-back from beyond the three point arc.

·       The closest the Hawks would get in the second half came at the midway point as sophomore Deanna Mayza combined with Lumb for a 5-0 rally that pulled Hartford within two, 42-40. The second basket of that run was Lumb's third three pointer of the half.

·       Bepko again led Hartford in the half, finishing with 10 points overall on 4-of-5 shooting, including 2-of-3 from beyond the three point arc. She also pulled down four rebounds.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·       Senior Amber Bepko finished her second-to-last regular season game making 6-of-9 attempts from the field for a team-high 16 points while grabbing 11 rebounds for her first career double double. Bepko has now led the team in scoring in 13 games and scored in double figures 20 times.

·       Sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza finished with a team-high five assists, while the Hawks finished with 13 total in their 21 field goals. Mayza's five assists is her 17th game of the season with five or more assists, while she has led the team in assists 12 times.

·       Senior Cherelle Moore finished one rebound shy of her fifth double double as she finished with 11 points and nine boards. Moore's 11 points is her 18th game of the season scoring in double figures.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·       Senior Amber Bepko collected her first career double double as she finished with 16 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.

·       Sophomore point guard Deanna Mayza dished out five assists, moving her into a tie for third all-time in a single season.

UP NEXT
The Hawks close out the regular season on Sunday, March 1 with a visit from the Stony Brook Seawolves. Tip off in the season finale is scheduled for 2 p.m. with a pre-game ceremony to honor the four seniors; Amber Bepko, Cherelle Moore, Shanise Bultron, and Katie Roth, slated for approximately 1:45 p.m.