Box Score
HAMBURG, NY – After jumping out to a 23-point first half lead, the Hilbert College women’s basketball team held on to capture their first Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference win over Penn State Altoona (0-8) December 8. Three players earned the coveted double-double as the Hawks improved to 3-6 overall. Natalie Whitman {in photo to right} led all scorers with 25 points while Altoona’s Moira Corrigan grabbed game-high rebounding honors with 14 caroms.
Jessica Jamison produced 13 points and 10 rebounds, but also found three steals and shared the ball for game-high six assists in the Hawks win. Whitman cleared 11 boards and Sarah Lorruso went five for six from the foul line. Corrigan led Altoona with 16 points and she had scoring help from Alidia Strouse (12) and Allison Edwards (10).
Hilbert exploded to a 21-4 lead after Wyann Jackson hit a long three-point shot at 12:11. With 1:41 remaining in the first half, the Hawks built a 23-point lead as Whitman scored an easy lay-up in the paint. Altoona finished the half going on a seven-point run to settle for a 42-26 deficit.
Whitman was seven for eight from the floor and a perfect six for six from the foul line. Lorusso distributed the rock for five assists in her thirteen minutes of play by half. Hilbert shot 48.5% from the floor and held the Lions to 23.7% field goal percentage. The Hawks held advantages in points in the paint (24-14) and fast break points (12-2).
After the break, Altoona found new life and slowly cut into the big gap. By 9:58, Hilbert held an 11-point lead (55-44) which was further cut down to eight after Altoona’s Edwards hit a three-point shot at 8:37. After that, Hilbert went cold from the field, but sank their free throws down the stretch to hold off the Lions’ come back. Altoona reversed fortunes in the second half gaining the better stats in points in the paint, points off turnovers, and second chance points.
Hilbert returns to action December 12 when they travel to Keystone (PA) for a double-header game with the men’s team. After the mid-week contest, the women’s team hosts Fredonia Friday, December 14th before they head into final exams for the fall semester.