ONEONTA, N.Y. – The Hartwick Hawks went on a 10-run to close the final 2:30 of the first half, overcoming a three point Highlander lead, then scored the first 13 points of the second half to build a lead they would never relinquish.   
 
Game Vitals:
      >Score:  Houghton College - 52   |   Hartwick College - 67
      >Records:  Houghton College: 5-4, 0-1 Empire 8   |   Hartwick College: 3-6, 1-0 Empire 8
      >Venue: Lambros Arena, Oneonta, NY   |    Attendance: 200
 
Game Flow
      > In the opening quarter the Hawks built their lead to as many as five before exchanging leads throughout the second. 
 
Elle Reed (Sherman, NY, Sherman Central School) drained a three to put the Highlanders up by the same amount with just over five minutes to play before the half.  After a Hawks basket, Brittany Lenart (Panama, NY, Panama HS) kept the Houghton lead at three when she sank a jumper. 
 
Then it happened.
 
Hartwick's Taylor Vonasek sank two free throws, hit a three pointer and a made a layup, and Carly Johnson drained a three to put the Hawks up by seven at the half. 
     
      > The Hawks opened the third quarter on a 13-0 run over the first seven minutes, and outscored the Highlanders 19-6 in the frame, building their lead to 20 heading into the fourth quarter.
      > Houghton refused to quit, putting together their best offensive quarter of the night, but it proved too little, too late, as the Hawks held on for the win.
 
Analysis:
      > While both teams shot fairly evenly from the floor (Hartwick 36.7%, Houghton 37.7%), turnovers continued to plague a young Highlanders team.  The Hawks forced 23 turnovers and committed only 15.  They also held a 15-9 edge in steals, leading to a huge 36-9 Hartwick advantage in points off turnovers.  
      > Hartwick also made 11 more trips to the foul line than the Highlanders, earning nine more points from the charity stripe than their opponent.
 
Clutch Performances:
The Highlanders:
      >Maisie Pipher (Lowman, NY, Twin Tiers Christian) posted her seventh double-double of the season, scoring 12 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.  She also blocked three shots.
      > Reed added a team-high 13 points.
     
The Hawks:
      > Vonasek drained 11 of 12 free throws to finish the night with a game-high 24 points.  She also collected six rebounds and five steals.
      > Jacqui Foreman scored 13 points and added seven rebounds and six assists.
 
Next Time Out:
Houghton returns to action this weekend with back-to-back home games against Ithaca College on Friday at 8:00 p.m. and St. John Fisher College on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.