ONEONTA, NY - Visiting Stevens Institute of Technology closed the first half on an 18-9 run to break open a 17-17 game and led by 10 or more throughout the second half in a 67-53 win over the Hartwick women's basketball team Saturday. Lauren Ploof (Hammond, NY) and Fritzi Flores (Bergenfield, NJ) combined for 30 points on the day to lead the Hawks. 'Wick closes out the season with a 12-13 mark and a fifth-place finish in the Empire 8.
Brittany Fuller and Paige Armstrong led the way for Stevens in the first half helping the team to a nine-point edge at the break (35-26) with both players combing for 20 points. The lead swelled to 14 points in the first three minutes of the second stanza and the Ducks would lead by at least 12 points for next 10 minutes.
'Wick trailed 54-36 with 8:42 left, but a 9-0 Hartwick spurt cut the Duck lead to 10 points, 55-45, with Brooke Anderson's (Hopkinton, MA) two baskets fueling the run. That would be as close as the Hawks would get as Stevens would score 13 of the game's next 18 points over the next four and a half minutes to gain a 17-point lead with just over two minutes left.
Ploof would finish as the game's high scorer with 19 points. She added five rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals. Flores added 11 points and six boards.
Seniors Danée Harrison (Cary, NC) and Katie Caddell (Amsterdam, NY) combined for 13 points and 14 rebounds in their final games in a Hartwick uniform. Harrison reached double digits in rebounds for the third straight game and 11th time this season with 11. Caddell netted eight points and hit two three-pointers in her last contest.
Fuller ended the game with 18 points and eight rebounds for Stevens. Fuller contributed 16 points and Dudek netted nine, dished out six assists and picked up four steals.
Despite the setback, the Hawks finish the season 12-13 overall and with five more wins than last season. Hartwick also ends up fifth in the Empire 8 standings with a 7-9 record which is the most victories in the conference in the last four years.
