ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University women's basketball team (2-8, Empire 0-2) fell to Hartwick 76-60 at home in Terry S. Galanis Family Arena on Friday evening.
 
The Saxons were paced by sophomore Jamie Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) with 17 points. First-year Chloe Kottwitz (Bolivar, NY/Bolivar-Richburg) chipped in with 14 points while sophomore Bri Hicks (Burlington, VT/Ithaca) nabbed a game-high 11 boards.
 
AU fell behind early in the first quarter, 18-8, despite six rebounds from Hicks in the opening stanza. Both teams ramped up their offense in the second quarter behind hot shooting. The Hawks outscored the Saxons 26-20 in the second period, bringing the game to 44-28 following the first half.
 
Kottwitz scored nine of her 14 points in the opening half on three field goals from outside the arc. The Saxons shot 12-of-35 (34.3%) overall and 4-of-14 (28.6%) from deep range in the opening half.
 
Hartwick maintained its lead in the second half despite being outscore by AU in the fourth quarter, 18-16. Caitlin Corbett and Carly Johnson paced the Hawks down the stretch with nine points each en route the 76-60 victory.
 
"I was proud of the way that we fought in the second half, but we have to get to a point where our intensity is consistent for 40 minutes," said Head Coach Monique McLean. "We have another opportunity to get it right tomorrow."
 
The Saxons held an advantage in points off turnovers (18-14) and maintained a deadlock on points in the paint with the Hawks, 28-28. Hartwick had more second chance points (9-8), bench points (22-18) and fast break points (18-12).
 
The Hawks shot 46.8% from the field while holding the Saxons to 31.5% shooting. Hartwick also held an advantage in free-throw shooting on 81.8% shooting compared to 45.5% shooting from the line.
 
AU returns to the hardwood tomorrow when it takes on Stevens at home at 4 PM in an Empire 8 showdown in the Galanis Family Arena.