WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Hartford women's basketball team fell 70-54 to LIU on Saturday inside Chase Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion. It was the season opener for the Hawks and the first game under first-year head coach Polly Thomason. The Sharks improved to 2-1 with the victory.
 
Box Score
 
LIU 70, HARTFORD 54
 
The Sharks swam out to an early lead and maintained a steady pace throughout the afternoon. LIU guard Ashley Austin land Hartford's Irene Primo each netted 14 points to tie for the game high. Freshmen Tatum Forbes (12 points) and Elena Houghton (10 points) both scored in double figures for the Hawks. Houghton added 10 rebounds to record her first career double-double.
 
The Hawks were solid from behind the arc, finishing 10-for-31 (.323), with Forbes (4-for-5, .800) and Primo (4-for-7, .571) leading the way. Hartford shot better from long-range than from the floor (.311), while LIU finished a near-perfect 14-of-15 (.933) from the free throw line.
 
The Sharks' biggest advantage came in the paint, where they held a 36-12 edge in scoring and led 53-23 on the glass. 11 players scored in a balanced effort for LIU.
 
INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES

• Eight Hawks made their debuts during Saturday's game: Houghton, Forbes, Zaiha Minnis, Paige Loughman, Ta'nya Outten, Lanae Johnson-Kleinpeter, Kymi Nance and Jasmine Barnes.
• Of that group, Forbes, Houghton, Minnis, Nance and Johnson-Kleinpeter all scored their first career points at Hartford
• Saturday was the first game on Hartford's bench for head coach Polly Thomason and her assistants Meredith Mesaris and Katie Korioth

NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks will travel to in-state rival Quinnipiac on Monday. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. from M&T Bank Arena. The Bobcats (2-1, 0-0 MAAC) dropped their season opener 85-42 at NC State last week but bounced back to defeat CCSU, 72-54, on Saturday. Quinnipiac is 9-3 all-time against Hartford and is riding a six-game winning streak versus the Hawks. QU won last year's matchup 113-64.