ONEONTA, NY - Emily Stone (Granby, CT/Granby Memorial) and Jacqui Foreman (Tolland, CT/Tolland) combined for 23 points but it wasn't enough as Union grabbed an early lead and never relinquished it in a 64-48 victory over the Hartwick women's basketball team on Tuesday night at Lambros Arena in the season opener for both teams.
            The Dutchwomen shot 42.6% (23-for-54) from the floor in the game while holding the Hawks to 32.1% (18-for-56) shooting. The visitors also controlled the glass, out-rebounding Hartwick 46-28, while pulling down 15 offensive rebounds which they turned into 16 second-chance points.
            Union would take a 9-2 lead with just under five minutes remaining in the first quarter but the Hawks got four of the next seven points, with Stone and Caitlin Corbett (Altamont, NY/Guilderland) scoring buckets to trim the lead to six, 12-6, one minute later. Three straight three-point baskets with under 1:17 left, however, would hand the Dutchwomen a 21-9 lead after one quarter.
            An 11-4 run to start the second quarter brought the Hawks back to within five points, 25-20. Stone, Foreman, Carly Johnson (Greenville, NY/Greenville Central), and Courtney Cirillo (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) all contributed in the spurt. The Hawks would trail by five again later in the quarter, but another late rally, this time a 9-0 run in the final 2:18, would push the Union lead to 14 points at halftime, 37-23.
            Hartwick got its deficit down to single digits early in the third quarter only to have another Union surge build the advantage back up to 18 points, 57-39, to close out the third.
            The Dutchwomen edge grew to its biggest of the night, 60-39, twenty-eight seconds into the fourth quarter and the closest the Hawks would get would be 14 on a late layup from freshman forward LeeAnne Green (Windsor, CT/Watkinson School).
            Stone would shoot 5-of-10 from the floor for the Hawks. Foreman made four of her 10 shots, grabbed a team-high of six rebounds, and dished out a team-best three assists. Johnson and Corbett each ended the night with six points, two assists, and two steals. Cirillo contributed seven points and four rebounds.
            Erin Lyons' double-double led the way for Union. She registered a game-high 15 points and tied for a game-high with 10 rebounds. Lyons also had three assists and two steals. Natalie Leone added 12 points, 10 boards, two assists, two blocks, and two steals. Nicole Conley knocked down a trip of three-pointers to finish with 13 points. She also had a game-high four assists. The Dutchwomen victory marked the 300^th for head coach Mary Ellen Burt.
            Hartwick returns to action on Thursday on the road at Cazenovia. Union is off for the next 10 days before hosting Gallaudet on November 25.