ONEONTA, N.Y. (January 22, 2013) – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team dropped a nail-biter with Hartwick College in Empire 8 action on Tuesday night. The Ducks had a chance to tie in the closing seconds but Hartwick's defense held to keep the Hawks undefeated in the conference.

Stevens started out hot, though, and never trailed in the first half. The visitors ran their advantage all the way to eight points with two minutes remaining in the period when Avis Benjamin (Queens, N.Y.) hit a layup in the lane. Benjamin finished the first half with 14 points and six rebounds, both tops among all players in the game at the break.

The Hawks battled back to get within two to start the second, and the teams had a total of 13 ties and lead changes in the heart-stopping second period. Rookie Miranda Ripken (Fallston, Md.) finished with 17 points and Molly Spadaro (Sewell, N.J.) chipped in with 10, while Maria Foglia (Rensselaer, N.Y.) led all scorers with 25 points for Hartwick.

Stevens shot 50 percent from behind the arc, with Ripken going 2-for-2…Hartwick settled for 23 three-point shots and made only seven…rebounds were nearly even (35-34)…both teams shot exactly 73 percent from the free-throw line but Hartwick was whistled for five fewer personal fouls.

The Ducks will travel next to Empire 8 rival Ithaca College for a 6 p.m. Friday night matchup.

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