Women's Basketball

Hawks Topped by Utica College

UTICA, NY - Hartwick's women's basketball team was defeated by a hot-shooting Utica College team on Tuesday, 89-61 at Clark Athletic Center. The Pioneers hit 61% as a team from the floor en route to their 18th win. Hartwick senior guard Heather Pruchansky (Naples, FL/Community School of Naples) poured in 23 second-half points in the contest.

The Pioneers darted out to a 13-2 lead after six minutes of action. The lead swelled to over 20 (34-12) with less than six minutes to go in the opening half and UC held a 44-16 at intermission.

The second half was a different story as the Hawks matched the Pioneers in points, 45-45, over the final 20 minutes. Hartwick trailed by as many as 38 points midway through the half, but the Hawks would outscore UC 29-19 over the final 12 minutes.

Pruchansky netted 13 points and knocked down two three-pointers in the late 'Wick run. For the half, she hit 7-of-13 from the field and made 6-of-10 from three-point range. Her 23 points was a career-high and her six three's matched a career-best. Lauren Ploof (Hammond, NY/Hammond) and Cassie Dresser (Ovid, NY/South Seneca) each added eight points, and Krystle Crouse (Canajoharie, NY/Canajoharie) scored six and recorded a team-high five rebounds.

The Pioneers (18-5, 11-3 E8), who made 19-of-32 (59%) shots in the first half and 18-of-29 (62%) in the second, were paced by Justine Karst, Jessica Berry, and Meghan Fiore. The trio combined for 57 points on the night, led by Karst's 20. Berry registered a double-double with 19 points and a game-high 15 rebounds, and Fiore netted 18 points. Stephanie Nara also reached double figures with 10.

The Hawks (6-17, 4-11 E8) will wrap up the regular season on Friday night at 6 p.m. against RIT at Lambros Arena. Seniors Pruchansky, Ploof, Crouse, Dresser, and Shamia Dean (Rensselaer, NY/Rensselaer) will be honored prior to tip-off. The game will also serve as the Hawks' Breast Cancer Awareness game. More information can be found about the event tomorrow on the Hartwick College website.