WEST HARTFORD, Conn.  - The Hartford women's basketball team soared their way to victory this Saturday afternoon in conference play against Gordon College, in a 81-56 triumph.

Rapid Recap:

• Hawks threw down five quick points to open this Saturday game, three-pointer was knocked down by sophomore Lauren Sabia (Simsbury, Conn.) The Fighting Scots matched the Hawks stride putting up five points of their own to bring the score to even just two minutes into the first quarter. Sabia broke their streak by putting away another three. Hawks pulled away, moving through the first claiming a 15-point run with big plays by freshman Mikaela Williams (Windsor, Conn.). Hawks lead 22-9 heading into the second quarter.
• The Fighting Scots Abby Chewning put up a powerful three to open the second quarter. The Hawks were not slowing their stride built in the first and ran with a six-point streak in their first minutes. The Hawks continued to be successful as they moved through this quarter. Freshman Emma O'Hare (Drexel Hill, Pa.) was solid for the Hawks with five straight points. The Fighting Scots were strongest outside the paint as Woynitu Ciccarello finished the quarter with a three pointer. Hawks maintained their lead to the end 43-28.
• In the opening minutes of the third, Williams found the hands of Sabia, she was on fire putting away another three pointer on her stat sheet. Sophomore Ava Naszimento (Secaucus, N.J.) was strong under the hoop this afternoon grabbing defensive rebounds that turned into points in the paint. The Hawks closed out another quarter on top building their lead to 26 points. 
• Freshman Mackenzie Hohulin (Plymouth, Mass.) put away some good points for the Hawks with a lay-up and-1 to get the Hawks pumped up pulling away from the Fighting Scots. Woynitu for Gordon had some solid points late in the fourth quarter but it was not enough to catch up to the Hawks large lead. Hawks finished off the day 81-56 with points from across the bench. 

Post Game Press:
Sophomore Ava Naszimento (Plymouth, Mass.) had this to say at the end of this afternoon's win, "We had a great game, the team came out and played hard.  I think we had a height advantage inside so we just wanted to use that, it was overall a great team win. We are ready to keep this momentum going to win the next one on the road."

"I am really happy with how we came back from over break. It feels like a different team the way we are practicing, we are on a mission," said Head Women's Basketball Coach Polly Thomason.  "I know there are alot more games to play but we have built a really good foundation for the rest of the season." 

• Sabia led the Hawks putting up 24 points on the board (10-19 FG, 4-9 FG, 0-0 FT) and nabbed six rebounds. O'Hare was the next leader for the Hawks with 13 points this afternoon (5-11 FG, 2-5 3PT, 1-1 FT) and four rebounds. Naszimento was right behind with 10 points (4-8 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-3 FT) and she had an impressive 13 rebounds. Ava was also a +32 in today's game.
• Naomi Nicholson lead the Fighting Scots with 11 points (4-11 FG, 3-4 3 PT, 0-0) and claimed two rebounds 
• The Hawks lead with 36 points in the paint while the Fighting Scots had 12. 

Up Next:
The Hawks will travel to Dudley, Mass. for their next match-up against Nichols College this upcoming Tuesday January 7th at 5:30 p.m.