Women's Basketball

Alfred Edges Hawks, 53-49

ONEONTA, NY - Lauren Ploof (Hammond, NY) netted a season-high 21 points for Hartwick but it wasn't enough as the Hawks dropped a 53-49 decision to Alfred University on Friday night at Binder Gymnasium. With the victory, the Saxons improve to 6-4 overall and get their first Empire 8 win. 'Wick slips to .500 with a 5-5 overall mark and a 1-2 record in conference play.

Ploof would lead all scorers hitting 6 of 12 from the field. Cassie Dresser (Ovid, NY) tied a career-high with 11 points for Hartwick. Danée Harrison (Cary, NC) pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds with Fritzi Flores (Bergenfield, NJ) contributing a career-high 11 boards.

Lyndsay Murphy (Almond, NY) scored 18 points to lead the Saxons. She also hit a game-high three three-pointers. Melanie Jackson (Andover, NY) added 13.

The game was close throughout with the largest lead of the night being only six points. The score was tied on nine separate occasions and the lead changed hands seven times.

After a 25-25 deadlock in the first half of play, the Hawks held a 30-26 lead with just over 17 minutes to go in the game following a Ploof trey. A three-point play from Jackson cut the lead to one which marked the final time the Hawks would hold a lead for the rest of the night. Murphy connected on a triple with exactly 16 minutes to go and the Hawks were never able to regain the advantage.

Over the next 10 minutes, Alfred's lead did not climb higher than three points. With less than four minutes to play, Hartwick's Kara Foro (Schenectady, NY) connected on a jumper to make the score 46-45 Alfred's favor. Following a scoreless possession for each squad, Hannah Meier (Rochester, NY) drained a big three-pointer for a four-point Saxon lead with 2:50 left, and less than a minute later Christina Jordan (Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY) sank a jumper to make it 51-45 and equal Alfred's biggest advantage.

Four straight points from Ploof with less than a minute left cut the Hartwick deficit to two points, 51-49, but a pair of Jackson free throws with 15 ticks on the clock following a 'Wick intentional foul gave the visitors a 53-49 lead and the ball back. The Hawks were forced to foul again and although the Saxons missed the ensuing free throw, 'Wick came up empty in its final possession to close out the night.

The Hawks had a difficult night shooting the basketball as they connected on just under 30% of their shots (17 for 57). They also hit only 4 of 17 from three-point range. The Saxons were not much better shooting 38.9% from the floor on the evening. They made six out of their 13 three-point attempts (46.2%) including some critical shots down the stretch, however, to get the win.

Hartwick is back at it tomorrow on the road in a non-conference game. The Hawks travel north to St. Lawrence University for a 4 p.m. start.