November 30, 2007
ELMIRA, N.Y. - Alysha Giarra and Erin Rupell each scored 14 points as Elmira downed visiting Hartwick 63-54 in Empire 8 Conference women's basketball action, Friday evening at Speidel Gym.
The Soaring Eagles, who evened their record to 2-2, broke open a four-point game at 49-45 with an 8-2 run to push the advantage back up to double figures. With the loss, the Hawks fell to 1-3 overall.
Hartwick opened on a 4-1 mini-run to take its lone lead of the contest. Elmira then took control of the first half by answering with a 12-2 run, which was capped off by a three-pointer by Christie Damo to give the Soaring Eagles a 13-6 advantage. They would gain their biggest lead of the game at 31-16 with 2:21 left in the first half. Hartwick answered with a 6-1 run in the final two minutes to shave the deficit to 32-22 at intermission.
Trailing 49-39 with 11:09 left, Hartwick pulled within 49-45 with 8:10 remaining on two free throws by
Fritzi Flores (Bergenfield, N.J.) and back-to-back jumpers by
Kara Foro (Schenectady, N.Y.). However, Elmira countered with the 8-2 run to put the game out of reach.
Foro finished with a season-high 15 points, while
Samantha Galm (Kingston, N.Y.) contributed 11 in the defeat. Flores finished with 9 points and 5 steals and
Katie Caddell (Amsterdam, N.Y.) posted an 8-point, 5-assist, 3-steal evening.
The duo of Foro and Galm combined to shoot 11 of 15 from the floor, while the rest of the Hawks went 7 of 35. As a team, Hartwick finished 18 of 50 (.360) from the floor. The Soaring Eagles posted the victory despite shooting a cold 22 of 70 (.314) from the field.
Hartwick lost the battle of the boards 53-36.
Danee Harrison (Ansonia, Conn.) and
Sarah Waltersdorf (Clifton Park, N.Y.) each grabbed six to lead the way for the Hawks.
Hartwick had 36 turnovers, while Elmira turned it over 30 times. The Hawks return to action Saturday afternoon at Ithaca. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
