MORRISVILLE, NY – A 17-6 run over the final 10 minutes of the first half keyed a 50-42 victory for Hartwick's women's basketball team on Saturday at Morrisville State. With the win, the Hawks improve to 4-2 on the season and have now secured three straight victories. The Mustangs fall to 1-4.
            Hartwick led by a slim 17-13 margin with 10:19 left in the opening half, but the Hawks would hold Morrisville to just 2-of-15 shooting over the final 10 minutes. On the offensive end, 'Wick hit five shots from the floor and made 6-of-8 from the line in the span to open up a 34-19 edge at intermission. Senior center Samantha Fox (Hartwick, NY/Cooperstown HS) netted six points and sophomore forward Tracey Koch (Glenmont, NY/Bethlehem Central) added four in the run.
            Sophomore Maria Foglia (Rensselaer, NY/Catholic Central HS) scored seven of Hartwick's first nine points over the opening two and a half minutes of the second half and the Hawks had their biggest lead of the game, 43-21. 'Wick struggled the rest of the way, however, scoring just seven more points. The Hawks did manage to hold a double-digit lead until the final minute of the contest.
            "We started the game very strong in the first half and played well," said Hartwick head coach Missy West. "In the second half, Morrisville came out in a zone and we didn't handle it well. We settled for too many three-pointers and didn't move the ball the way we needed to. We've got to do better."
            Nine players made it into the scoring column for Hartwick and 10 players grabbed at least one rebound. Foglia led Hartwick with a game-high 14 points. She made five of her nine shots from the floor, made a pair of three-pointers, dished out four assists, and grabbed three rebounds.
            Koch registered her first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Both totals were career-bests. Fox added eight points and eight rebounds. Freshman Carlee Hirt (Beacon, NY/John Jay-E. Fishkill) contributed eight points and four boards, and Kate Purcell (Buffalo, NY/Mount Mercy Academy) notched five rebounds, four assists, three points, and three steals.
            Jennel Paul (12) and Nijah Townsend (10) combined for 22 of the Mustangs' 42 points. Townsend and Nijee Scott each pulled down nine rebounds for the hosts.
            The Hawks shot 31.4% as a team and 19% from three-point range in the game. The Hawks managed to hold the Mustangs to 26.4% shooting. The Hawks held a 45-41 edge in rebounds.
            "We out-rebounded them in the game, but we allowed far too many offensive boards, especially in the second half," added West. "We'll need a better effort this week."
            The Hawks, after six straight road games to start the season, host St. Lawrence on Monday at 6 p.m. The game marks the first of three contests at Lambros Arena to close the first semester. After entertaining the Saints, the Hawks play city rival Oneonta State on Thursday and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on Friday.