Box Score

ALTOONA, Pa – The Hilbert College women's basketball team battled back from a nine-point half time deficit but time ran out for the Hawks as they suffered a 71-66 loss at Penn State Altoona.

The Hawks (1-6, 0-2) outscored the Lions by six points in the second stanza, but just didn't have enough time to pull the road win. Each team had three players reach for double figures in the scoring column and each team finished with 40+ rebounds by the final horn.

Natalie Whitman's 17 points led the Hawks and Kylie Reinholz and Courtney Coots added 14 points each. Amber Hay, in her first start, added 8 points, 4 assists and matched Whitman's team-high 8 rebounds.

Altoona's Courtney Becker and Devin Stessney each chipped in 15 points to lead the 1-5 (1-1) Lions.

Neither team was able to build a big lead early in the game as the point spread hovered in the three-point range until the 8-minute mark. At that point, the Lions went on a 15-2 run and built a 39-22 hold with about four minutes left in the half.

The 16-7 points off turnovers and 10-2 fast break points advantages which Altoona held contributed to the Lions 41-30 half time lead.

The Lions kept their double digit lead early in the second half until the Hawks rattled off a 20-8 run to close the gap (53-52) at 8:38. Hay, Coots, and Wyann Jackson all found the bottom of the net, but it was Whitman's layup to cut the score to one point. After that emotional come-back, Altoona jumped back on top again stretching the lead to as many as 9, but the Hawks chipped away and had to settle for a 71-66 final score.

Altoona out-shot the Hawks from the floor (42% - 37%) sinking 30 buckets compared to Hilbert's 23. The Lions were a dismal 8-for-24 from the free throw line but they managed to win the turnover battle (27-18).

Hilbert returns to action Monday, December 9 when they welcome Alfred State College to the Hafner Center for a non-conference game beginning at 7pm.