Women's Basketball

Hawks Send Seniors Off in Style With Win Over Rochester Institute of Technology

ONEONTA, NY - Hartwick College's women's basketball team squeezed out a 46-44 victory on Friday night at Lambros Arena in the Hawks' final season game. The Hawks finish up the year 7-17 overall and 5-11 in the Empire 8.

Prior to the game, Hartwick's five seniors - Lauren Ploof (Hammond, NY/Hammond), Heather Pruchansky (Naples, FL/Community School of Naples), Shamia Dean (Rensselaer, NY/Rensselaer), Cassie Dresser (Ovid, NY/South Seneca), and Krystle Crouse (Canajoharie, NY/Canajoharie) were recognized for their contributions to the program. The quintet did not disappoint in its final game as the five players combined for 35 points, 33 rebounds, and nine steals.

After a back and forth second half, the Hawks grabbed the lead, 40-39, with eight minutes left to play on a three-point basket from Pruchansky. She added another triple a minute and a half later for a four-point edge. It was her third of the contest and vaulted her into 2nd place all-time in treys with 80 for her career.

The Tigers then took the advantage with under three minutes to go as Leslie Havens hit a three and Anne Wapshare dropped in a layup for a 44-43 edge, but a Ploof basket with 2:12 to play gave the Hawks the lead for good.

In the final two minutes with a chance to take the lead, the Tigers missed a pair of shots and turned the ball over twice. Ploof extended the Hartwick edge to two points with a free throw with 16 ticks left. RIT then drove down the court and a potential game-tying layup was off the mark. The Tigers, however, maintained possession with four seconds to go.

After a timeout, Danielle Furman missed a three-point attempt, but Havens cleaned up the offensive glass and was fouled with only one second remaining sending her to the free-throw line for a pair. Her first shot bounced off the rim and she was forced to miss her second for a chance at an offensive board. Fortunately, the Hawks came down with the rebound and time expired handing the Blue and White the victory.

Pruchansky scored 13 points, including the three three-pointers. She added a team-best four steals and two assists. Ploof netted 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds. She closes her career with 1,237 career points in two seasons with the Hawks and two at SUNY Canton. Dresser finished the game with career-highs of 11 rebounds and six offensive boards. Crouse contributed four points and nine boards, and Dean chipped in with five points. Freshman Jalicia Connell (Westbury, NY/Hicksville) scored eight.

RIT was led by Sharon Dennis' 14 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocks. Havens finished with 13 points and nine boards.

The Hawks shot just 25.4% from the floor in the game, but pulled down a season-best 56 rebounds in the contest. Hartwick led by as many as 12 points in the first half as the Tigers connected on just 18% in the first half. The Hawks would hold the Tigers to just 25% on the night.