NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Freshmen classmates Zaiha Minnis and Elena Houghton scored career-highs of 15 and 12 points, respectively, as the Hartford women's basketball team came up short in a, 79-66, decision against Merrimack on Saturday. The Hawks fall to 0-18 on the season, while the Warriors improve to 4-13 on the year. 
 
MERRIMACK 79, HARTFORD 66
Hartford started the game out strong after Houghton and Minnis gave the Hawks an early 5-2 edge. Both sides would then go back-and-forth with the lead until Merrimack utilized a 14-5 run over the middle frame of the period to increase its advantage to 16-10. The Hawks would battle back to keep the game within striking distance, trailing 22-17 after the opening quarter. 
 
Both sides would trade baskets once again to start out the second. With six minutes remaining in the first half of action, Merrimack would go on a 6-0 run to open up a 33-23 lead over the Hawks. However, sophomore Nayeli Dowding came off the bench and lit a spark that would propel Hartford's offense, scoring 10 points in the quarter to close the gap to 41-35 heading into the halftime break.
 
Coming out into the second half, Merrimack found its stride going on a 13-4 run over the first five minutes of the third quarter to open up a 54-39 advantage. The Warriors kept their momentum going over the remainder of the quarter, taking a 61-45 lead into the fourth. Despite the late push from the Hawks outscoring Merrimack 19-10 over the last seven minutes of the game, Hartford would eventually fall to the Warriors, 79-66.
 
INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES

• Minnis scored a team and career-high 15 points on 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc
• Houghton scored a career-high 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field
• Freshman Tatum Forbes and Dowding added 14 and 11 points, respectively
• Graduate student Jasmine Barnes grabbed a game and career-high nine rebounds
• The Hawks shot a season-best 87.5 (14-16) percent from the free throw line
• Merrimack outrebounded Hartford 47-34
• Kaylee Thomas led all scorers, finishing with 17 points for the Warriors

 
NEXT ON TAP
Hartford returns to the court on Tuesday, Jan. 24, matching up against Bryant. Tipoff between the Hawks and Bulldogs is set for 7 p.m.