Box Score
BUFFALO, NY – Hilbert’s Courtney Coots earned game-high scoring honors in the Hawks 61-53 road loss to D’Youville College January 17. Coots scored a season high 18 points, sinking three of six shots beyond the arc and hit all five free throws as Hilbert suffered an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference defeat to their cross-town rivals. Alexis Smith paced the Spartans (5-11, 4-5) with 15 points, 15 rebounds and three steals. Natalie Whitman chipped in 12 points and grabbed 14 rebounds (7 offensive) and Jenah Labuski added 11 points for HIlbert.
The first twenty minutes played out as expected as neither team pulled away from the other to take command of the game. The score was tied four times, with Hilbert jumping on D’Youville twice early in the contest. The Spartans took a 23-19 half time lead by out-rebounding the Hawks 29-19.
Hilbert opened the second half on a quick 5-0 run, all netted by Labuski. Hilbert’s shooting touch then went cold as they missed the next seven shots and watched D’Youville’s Smith stretch their lead, 31-24. Both teams traded baskets for the next ten minutes until the Spartans held their largest lead (52-40) at 4:55; 11 of the host’s 21 points were scored at the charity stripe during that crucial point in the game. While Hilbert was looking for jump shots to get back into the game, the Spartans continuously took "the walk" to the foul line, converting five of their last eight attempts in the final 63 seconds.
Hilbert finished the game shooting 25.8% from the floor, and 73.7% from the foul line. They were credited with 46 rebounds (18 offensive), 13 assists, 10 steals and a season-high eight block shots. D’Youville won the game at the foul line making 28 of 39 attempts with Hilbert hitting 14 of 19.
Hilbert (3-14, 1-9) will host Franciscan University this Saturday, January 19 with a 1pm tip.