Box Score
HAMBURG, NY – The Hilbert College women’s basketball team lost a hard-fought 62-52 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference battle to Penn State Behrend February 13th at the Hafner Recreation Center. The Hawks rebounded from a mid-January lop-sided defeat in Erie, PA to seriously challenge the Lions, who sit in 3rd place in league standings with a 12-5 record.
Natalie Whitman led all scorers with 21 points and 10 rebounds, marking her 8th double-double this season. Sarah Lorusso chipped in 10 points and 6 assists for the Hawks (3-20, 1-16). Ally Burke led three Behrend double-figure scorers with 15 points and Holly Bourquin grabbed 15 rebounds (8 points).
Hilbert opened the game with a 16-2 run with five different players finding the score book. Jenah Labuski hit a 3-pointer to get Hilbert rolling, and her lay-up at 12:57 gave the Hawks their largest lead of the game. The Lions found their legs, and, after hitting back-to-back 3’s, they took their first lead (17-16) at 7:50. The two teams traded blows the rest of the half with Hilbert holding a 30-27 advantage at the break. Whitman and Labuski were each 1 for 1 from beyond that arc leading the Hawk charge with 9 and 7 points respectively.
The second half picked up right where the first left off. Hilbert grabbed a 37-27 lead by 16:50 after Whitman hit twice and Lorusso knocked down a 3-pointer. Turnovers and cold shooting by Hilbert allowed the Lions to creep back and tie the contest 39-39 at 13:19. Hilbert played tough defense with consecutive block shots by Whitman and Kateland Ball, but their offensive production cooled the last ten minutes of the game. Behrend was perfect from the foul line making all seven attempts to escape with a victory.
Hilbert finished the game shooting 40.7% from the floor and held Behrend to 33.3%. The Hawks have held their opponents to less than 35% FG shooting all season, holding down the number one spot in league rankings. Hilbert’s 14 steals and 8 blocks created 21 Behrend turnovers, but the Lions out rebounded Hilbert by 21 (51-30).
Hilbert’s last regular season game is this Saturday, February 16 when they take on the AMCC regular season champions, La Roche College (21-1, 16-1). Prior to the start of the game, the Hawks will honor senior Amber Grosch in her last basketball game of her four-year career. Come by and support your Hawks!