WEST HARTFORD, Conn. —  Junior forward Charlette Leurs led the Hawks with career-highs of 19 points and 14 rebounds, as the Hartford women's basketball team earned its first win of the season, defeating New Hampshire, 53-50, inside the Reich Family Pavilion on Monday afternoon. 

With the win the Hawks improved to 1-2 on the season and in the America East, while the Wildcats fell to 1-5 on the season and 1-2 in conference-play.

PHOTO GALLERY

HARTFORD 53, NEW HAMPSHIRE 50
New Hampshire used the opening seven minutes of the contest to go on a 13-5 run, holding Hartford to 1-of-8 from the floor during the stretch. However, the Hawks were able to cut into the deficit, trailing 15-10 heading into the second quarter. After an Abby Streeter three-pointer cut the Hartford deficit to 17-15, New Hampshire was able to push its lead to 23-17 with 4:52 to go before the break. The Hawks countered with an 11-4 run to close the half, capped by a Marissa Lee put-back to give Hartford a 28-27 lead entering the break. 

New Hampshire opened the third quarter with an 8-0 run, pushing its lead to 35-28, before a Leurs layup stopped the scoring drought for Hartford. Down 42-32, the Hawks closed the quarter with a 10-2 run, with Leurs scoring nine of Hartford's 10 points during the run to cut the New Hampshire lead to 44-42 entering the fourth quarter.

After the Wildcats pushed its lead to 47-44, the Hawks responded with a 6-0 run to take a 50-47 lead with 6:44 remaining in regulation. With the score knotted at 50-50, Breyenne Bellerand scored on a driving layup with 3:07 left in the fourth quarter to give Hartford a two-point lead, one it would not relinquish. The Hawks held the Wildcats scoreless the final 4:03 of play, holding on for the 53-50 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX AND NOTES

• Leurs led the Hawks with career-highs of 19 points and 14 rebounds for her first career double-double
• Leurs' double-double is the first by a Hartford player since Sierra Smith posted 16 points and 13 rebounds against Maine on Jan. 20, 2020
• Leurs added three blocks, tying her career-high
• Leurs has tallied three blocks in back-to-back contests
• Bellerand added eight points and six rebounds
• Nina Farkic contributed five points and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds
• The Hawks outrebounded the Wildcats, 49-35
• Helena Delaruelle led New Hampshire with 14 points and 11 rebounds

NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks will be back in action Tuesday, Dec. 29 when they close the season series against New Hampshire inside Reich Family Pavilion. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

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