Ava
Hartford Athletics Communications
59
Winner Hartford Hart 9-7,6-1 CNE
56
Nichols NC 9-8,2-6 CNE
Winner
Hartford Hart
9-7,6-1 CNE
59
Final
56
Nichols NC
9-8,2-6 CNE
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Hartford Hart 18 8 12 21 59
Nichols NC 15 10 15 16 56

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Hartford Women's Basketball Flies into First Place in CNE with 59-56 Win Over Nichols College

DUDLEY, Mass. - The Hartford women's basketball team improved to 6-1 in the Conference of New England (CNE) on Saturday defeating Nichols College by a 59-56 final. With the win the Hawks sit on top of the CNE with the 6-1 record.

Rapid Recap:
  • The Hawks jumped ahead 7-0 highlighted by senior Paige Loughman (Bernardston, Mass.), who would knock down a three and a layup in the early going. The Bison would go on a run of their own scoring the next seven points to even the score at the midway mark. Hartford stayed in front after a pair of free throws for junior Ava Naszimento (Secaucus, N.J.) and a three-pointer for junior Lauren Sabia (Simsbury, Conn.). Nichols would answer with a three of their own, but Loughman would knock down two more triples in the quarter as the Hawks led 18-15 after the first 10 minutes. 
  • The Bison would even the score again as the teams would trade baskets in the early going with the score sitting at 20-20 with 7:34 to play. Naszimento would add a another paint finish, followed by another layup for Sabia, but the Bison stayed close as the lead was within three points. Naszimento would get the final bucket in the first half for the Hawks with 5:13 to play in the quarter, but some great defense saw the Hawks take a 26-25 lead into halftime. 
  • Junior Ella Marchesani (Saddle Brook, N.J.) knocked down a jumper to start the third quarter followed by a steal and layup by freshman Allie Shenloogian (Park Ridge, N.J.) as Hartford led 30-25. Back-to-back threes for the Bison gave the home team the lead at 31-30. The teams would trade baskets but another three gave Nichols a 36-32 lead with 4:25 to play in the third. After two free throws for Hartford, Naszimento would get a good paint finish as the game was tied at 38. Nichols would get a final bucket to lead 40-38 with 10 minutes to play. 
  • Sabia kicked off the fourth with a driving layup to knot the score once again. Freshman Gabrielle Matthews (Raleigh, N.C.) would give the Hawks the lead grabbing an offensive board before finishing a layup. Matthews would score another layup a couple of minutes later, but Alyvia Smith knocked down a huge three to cut the Hawk lead to 44-43. Sabia answered with a three of her own as the lead was back to four with 5:41 to play. A 5-0 spurt capped off by a Smith three for the Bison put the home team back in the lead with 4:30 left. Matthews would respond for the Hawks drilling a triple putting Hartford back in front but Rylee Barrieault came right back with a three for Nichols as the teams went back and forth. Matthews continued to score but another three gave Nichols a 54-52 lead with two minutes to play. Marchesani drew a foul and would net both free throws to tie the game at 54. Marchesani finished a bucket once again to respond to a Nichols bucket as again the teams were tied with 1:09 left. Naszimento would get two huge offensive rebounds before drawing a foul and knocking down both free throws to give the Hawks the lead with 17 seconds. Hartford would get the defensive stop to win 59-56. 
Inside The Numbers:
  • Hartford extended its winning streak to six games with the win, the Hawks have not lost a game since December 29th at Babson College.
  • Naszimento was huge down the stretch ending the game with 12 points (4-12 FG, 4-4 FT), six rebounds and three assists. Matthews played incredible in the fourth quarter finishing the night with 13 points (4-7 FG, 1-2 3PT, 4-4 FT), six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Sabia tallied 11 points (4-15 FG, 2-6 3PT, 1-2 FT), 10 rebounds and a block, while Loughman added 11 points (4-5 FG, 3-4 3PT) and four boards. 
  • Smith led the Bison with 21 points (7-20 FG, 5-15 3PT, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds and three steals. Rylee Barrieault added 11 points (4-14 FG, 3-11 3PT) and three assists in the loss. 
  • The Hawks bench continues to produce for head coach Jackie Smith earning a 24-15 point advantage. Hartford also won the battle in the painted area by a 22-16 margin. 
Up Next:
The Hawks will host Roger Williams on January 20th for Hartford Health Care Night with a 5:30 PM tip. 

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