THE BASICS:
 
RESULT: Hartford 65, UMBC 54
RECORDS: Hartford (12-6, 4-1 AE); UMBC (2-16, 1-4 AE)
LOCATION: Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion (West Hartford, Conn.)
PHOTO GALLERY
 
THE LEAD:
 
Senior Janelle Harrison and junior Lindsey Abed combined for 45 points on Monday to lead the University of Hartford to a 65-54 victory against visiting UMBC. Harrison netted 23 points, a season high, while Abed tied a season-best mark with 22 points as the Hawks improved to 4-1 in the America East with their sixth-straight win inside the Reich Family Pavilion.

Three Retrievers registered double figures in the losing effort, led by Allison McGrath's 13 points. Lucrezia Costa (12 points) and Brittani Burgess (11) rounded out UMBC's top scorers.


 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Hartford came out of the gates hot, opening the game with a 10-0 run to take a double-digit lead four minutes in. Holding UMBC to just one field goal throughout the entire stanza – a three-pointer from Kristen Teklits – the Hawks took a 20-6 advantage into the second quarter behind 50 percent shooting.
• The Retrievers started to come alive in the second quarter, but the Hawks' offense continued to roll. Over the last 5:39 of the half, Abed knocked down a pair of triples and senior Mary Pattison added one of her own as Hartford, which led by as many as 21, took a 40-21 lead into the break.
• The third quarter was dominated by UMBC, allowing the club to claw back into the game. The Retrievers held the Hawks to just six points during that stretch, and after rallying for an 8-0 run to pull within 11 midway through, they cut the deficit to eight (46-38) after ending the quarter with a 7-0 run.
• Hartford regained control in the final quarter, though. Opening the stanza with 14-straight points, including eight from Abed and four from Harrison, the Hawks took their largest lead of the game (22 points) with 5:32 to go. UMBC didn't go down easy, pulling within 11 in the closing minutes, but Hartford held on for its fifth win in six games.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE & NOTES:

• Scoring 13 of her game-best 23 points in the first quarter, Harrison added four steals and eight rebounds.
• After opening the game shooting 53.8 percent (14-of-26) in the first half, Hartford cooled down in the second to finish the afternoon at 44.2 percent (23-of-52).
• UMBC was held to a 1-of-11 effort from the field in the opening quarter and went just 29.2 percent from the floor in the first half.
• From three, the Hawks went 9-of-19 (47.4%) and outscored the Retrievers, 27-15.
• The Hawks forced 20 turnovers, scoring 20 points off of UMBC's miscues. It marked the 13th time this season that Hartford forced 20-or-more turnovers.
• UMBC held a 33-26 edge in the boards.

 
NEXT ON TAP:
The Hawks conclude their brief homestand on Thursday, Jan. 18, hosting Maine. The 7 p.m. tip can be seen on ESPN3 with Jeff Dooley (play-by-play) and Katie Roth (analyst) on the call.
 
Tickets can be purchased by calling 860-768-HAWK or online (www.HartfordHawks.com/tickets). Fans can also purchase tickets on game day by visiting the Malcolm and Brenda Berman Athletics Ticket Office, located inside of the Reich Family Pavilion.