THE BASICS:
 
RESULT: Hartford 83, Niagara 65
RECORDS: Hartford (4-4); Niagara (1-7)
LOCATION: Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion (West Hartford, Conn.)
PHOTO GALLERY
 
THE LEAD:
 
Sophomore Sierra DaCosta tied a career high in scoring to lead the University of Hartford women's basketball team past visiting Niagara, 83-65, at Reich Family Pavilion. The guard poured in a game-high 26 points to pace four Hawks in double figures.

Junior Lindsey Abed added 17 points in the win, while senior Janelle Harrison (14 points) and junior Alexia Douglas (10) rounded out the Hawks' top scorers. Victoria Rampado compiled a double-double for Niagara, scoring 25 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in the losing effort.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Hartford erased an early six-point deficit with an 11-0 run that was fueled by three different scorers. DaCosta contributed five of her 13 first-half points to that four-minute rally, which put the Hawks on top, 13-8, with 2:43 left in the first stanza.
• That rally provided the Hawks with a lead that would not be relinquished for the remainder of the game. Before the halftime break, Hartford pushed its lead into double digits for the first time at 35-25 after closing out the half with a 7-1 run.
• Out of the intermission, the Hawks continued to put the pedal to the metal. A series of three-pointers – one from DaCosta and two from Douglas – extended Hartford's advantage to 53-36 with 3:47 left in the third quarter.
• The Purple Eagles managed to close the gap down to 10 thanks to a combined 6-of-6 effort from the free throw line, but they wouldn't come any closer. Hartford closed out the contest on a tear, netting 14 of the game's last 18 points to coast to the win.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• An outstanding effort on the boards was a key to victory for the Hawks. Three players had seven or more rebounds, led by nine from senior Darby Lee, as Hartford held a 36-32 advantage on the boards.
• Pulling down 16 offensive rebounds, the Hawks scored 18 of their points off second-chance opportunities.
• Hartford limited its turnovers to just eight, a season-best number, and forced 20 Niagara miscues. More than 25 percent (23 points) of the Hawks' points came off of Purple Eagles' mistakes.
• Hartford's 83 points were the most for the team this season, and the most for the Hawks since scoring 84 at UMass Lowell on Feb. 12, 2017.
• Draining four of Hartford's season-best nine three-pointers, DaCosta shot 9-of-14 from the field to reach her career high for the second time in as many games. With back-to-back 26 points outings, she is the first Hawk to score 20 or more in consecutive games since Deanna Mayza had 24 against Sacred Heart (Dec. 4, 2016) and 22 at Niagara (Dec. 7, 2016).

 
NEXT ON TAP:
An in-state battle is on the docket for Hartford, as the Hawks host neighboring Central Connecticut on Wednesday night. Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling 860-768-HAWK, by visiting the Malcolm and Brenda Berman Athletics Ticket Office, or by clicking here. Tipoff from Reich Family Pavilion is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN3.