WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The Hartford women's basketball team collected their first 2025 season win as they took on the United States Coast Guard Academy on Friday evening, 68-60. Head Coach Jackie Smith claimed her first win for the Hawks in this Friday night game bringing their season record to now 1-2.

Rapid Recap:

• The Hawks started this match up strong denying any chances the Bears attempted to generate. It was Taryn Blevins (St. Louis, Mo.) who opened the scoring with a swift lay-up receiving a pass by junior Ava Naszimento (Secaucus, N.J.). The Hawks made key defensive rebounds to maintain their momentum, junior Kendall Rieman (Chicago, Ill.) held strong under the hoop to not allow the Bears any second-chances at net. Blevins and junior Ella Marchesani (Saddle Brook, N.J.) extended their opening run with back-to-back threes beyond the arc to push the differential 16-8 to close out this first quarter with heat.
• Tensions rose in the second quarter as the Bears forced the Hawks to make errors. Dorothy Stotts and Farrah Peterein applied the pressure sinking shots all over the court. The Bears opened with an 11-point run over the Hawks. The Hawks were only able to sneak in points at the free-throw line to maintain arms-reach now trailing 22-20. The Bears closed out the first half in dominant fashion dropping a silencing three under pressure taking now a five-point lead into the locker room, 27-22.
• Coast Guard continued to pressure defensively forcing an early turnover off the hands of Marchesani and drop a quick lay-up off the switch off possession. Hartford responded with a pull up jumper from freshman Allie Shenloogian (Park Ridge, N.J.) to settle the offense. The Bears pushed their lead to six gaining points at the free-throw line, 33-27. Marchesani took back control of this game answering with a deep three to bring the Hawks back within four. Shenloogian hit a jumper and Naszimento finished at the rim on the next possession to bring the score even at 33-33 with less than 6 minutes in the 3rd. Naszimento continued to give the Hawks their power back putting away key points to pull them out of this third quarter in a pivotal lead 51-40 with one quarter remaining.
• Coast Guard used their time to recollect and open this final quarter with a powerful nine-point run to silence the Hawks' fans. Rieman and Nasziemento continued to be lights out in the paint to pull the Hawks out of this drought, and take back this game. It came down to the free-throw accuracy for Hartford in the final minute making their last four points at the line. The Hawks closed out this exciting match on top defeating the Hawks after a tough fight 68-60.

Inside The Numbers:

• Marchesani led the Hawks scoring 19 points (6-15 FG, 5-11 3P, 2-2 FT) to go with twoboards and two steals. 
• Naszimento finished the day in double-digits again pouring in 15 points (6-18 FG, 3-7 FT) along with nine boards and two steals. Blevins added twelve points (3-9 FG, 2-5 3PT, 4-6 FT) and four rebounds. 
• Shenloogian was strong under the net tonight bringing home 10 rebounds and added 12 points (4-9 FG, 1-2 3PT, 2-4 FT).
• Olivia Wright led the Bears with 16 points (5-15 FG, 2-7 3PT, 4-5 FT) and six boards. 
• The two teams were well matched tonight with two lead changes each the Hawks went 30-29 over the Bears in defensive rebounds while the Bears were more successful at the free throw line going 86.7% while the Hawks trailed at 52%.

Post Game Press:
"We came out with fire, we knew we were going to get the win, we prepared well and did what we needed to do to get the win," said freshman Allie Shenloogian (Park Ridge, N.J.). "There are a lot of great players on this team and I have fit in well with the program and we continue to just push each other to be the best we can. I pride myself on playing good defense and getting open looks for my teammates, focusing on unselfish plays and I am happy to get the win."

"This is what we've been preaching since day one, we cannot be a one-man show, it has to be everyone buying into whatever role they fall into," said women's basketball Head Coach Jackie Smith. "I think Allie was a great example of that tonight, she is finding her way to get a lot done. I am really proud of the group because it is not just those you saw out on the court tonight, it is our preparation in practice. A lot of the guys you did not see are getting it done in practice to allow us to play this well. As a coach that is taking over a new program, we talk a lot about our values and trust, that is our big foundational piece and I trust these players to get in there, no matter the time, I trust them and they have been stepping up to the task."
 

Up Next:
The Hawks will hit the road to face off against Springfield College next Saturday, November 22nd with a tip-off at 1:30 p.m.

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