HOUGHTON, NY – A huge 19-0 first-half run enabled a 67-58 victory for Hartwick's women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon over the Houghton Highlanders at the Nielsen Physical Education Center in Houghton, NY in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Hawks led by as many as 20 points in the second half and cruised to their second straight victory to kick off 2013.
            Hartwick received points from 10 different players with five scoring at least eight points. Freshman forward Brittney Dumas (Easton, CT/Joel Barlow HS) scored 14 points to lead all Hawks on the day. Junior forward Katrina Caulfield (Palmer, MA/Palmer) netted a season-high 10 points and grabbed a team-best seven rebounds.
            "It was a great effort by our team," said Hartwick head coach Missy West following the game. "Katrina had a great game rebounding the ball with some great inside seals for layups. Our players found her at the right time and she finished the plays. I'm very proud of our effort this weekend."
             The host Highlanders were hot to start the game as they converted on four of their first five possessions for a 9-4 lead after two minutes and 50 seconds. However, Houghton would go scoreless for the next 5:09 while the Hawks caught fire.
            'Wick would make its next five shots from the floor, including three straight three-pointers to take a 17-9 advantage. Lee Arduini (Albany, NY/Academy of the Holy Names) sank the first triple to put the Hawks in front, 11-9, and Kate Purcell (Buffalo, NY/Mt. Mercy Academy) knocked down the other two from downtown.
            A layup from Caulfield and five straight points from Arduini would make the score 23-9 Hartwick and put the Blue and White in full control of the game. A layup from Maisie Pipher with 12 minutes left in the half finally broke the scoreless streak for Houghton after three straight missed shots and five turnovers.
            The Highlanders twice would cut the Hartwick lead to seven points in the half. A Kristen Moose jumper with just over nine minutes left made the score 25-18, but the Hawks closed the half with 14 of the final 21 points for a 39-25 lead at the intermission.
            Dumas (10), Arduini (9), and Purcell (8) combined for 27 of the Hawks' 39 first-half points. 'Wick also shot 50% from the floor, 83% (5-of-6) from three-point range, and forced 13 Highlander turnovers over the opening 20 minutes.
            Twelve points was as close as Houghton could get to Hartwick in the second half until the final minute. Two Moose free throws made the score 45-33 with just over 14 minutes remaining. Two layups apiece from Caulfield and Maria Foglia (Rensselaer, NY/Catholic Central), however, gave the Hawks their biggest lead of the game 2:10 later, 53-33.
            Hartwick maintained a lead of at least 15 points until the late stages. The Hawks were up 64-44 with under four minutes showing on the clock before a 14-3 run to end the game got the Highlanders to under a 10-point deficit.
            Dumas would connect on seven of her 12 shots in the game to lead Hartwick. Caulfield made 5-of-8 shots and Purcell contributed five rebounds and four assists.
            Foglia finished the game with nine points, four rebounds and three assists. Arduini also ended up with nine points for 'Wick. Taylor Vonasek (Willington, CT/E.O. Smith) added five points, all coming in the first half of play.
            Moose led all scorers with 19 points for Houghton (6-5). Kaitlin Hammersley recorded 11 points and Michelle Persons grabbed a game-high eight boards.
            The Hawks finished the contest shooting 45.8% (27-for-59) as a group. Houghton converted 42.3% (22-of-52) of its shots and the Highlanders held a 36-28 edge on the glass.
            Hartwick (9-3, 2-0 Empire 8) will return to the hardwood next weekend at Lambros Arena. St. John Fisher comes calling on Friday, January 11. The Hawks then host Alfred the following day.