WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Hartford scored its first victory of the season over Morgan State 80-59 in the opening round of the Preseason Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) Friday night.
 
Graduate student Ella Awobajo registered her second consecutive double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, as the Hawks improve to 1-1 on the season. Adre'onia Coleman paced the Lady Bears with a game-high 19 points, as Morgan State falls to 1-2 overall.

HARTFORD 80 MORGAN STATE 59
The Hawks held a four-point advantage at the end of the first quarter, before starting the second quarter on a 8-2 run, capped off by a three-pointer by freshman Jordan McLemore making the score 26-16 with 5:22 remaining in the half. The lead stayed 10 (35-25) going into intermission when senior Lindsey Abed took a pass from sophomore Jade Young and knocked down a three pointer with six seconds on the clock.
 
Hartford broke the game open in the third quarter, outscoring the Lady Bears 23-14 in the period. Awobajo had six points and four rebounds in the quarter while junior Sierra DaCosta scored five points and grabbed two boards of her own. The trend continued into the fourth, as the Hawks pushed their lead to as many as 25, securing the 80-59 victory.
 
NEWS AND NOTES

• Abed finished the game with a career-high seven steals.
• Sophomore Jada Lucas (11 points) and freshman Jabria Ingram (11 points) both scored in double figures for the first time in their career.
• Hartford scored 41 points off turnovers, forcing 33 Morgan State turnovers and recording 16 steals.

 
NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks head south to take on No. 24 Miami on Sunday in the second round of the Preseason WNIT. Opening tip is 1 p.m.