ONEONTA, NY – Hartwick found itself up by 17 points in the third quarter but regionally-ranked Sage finished the game on a 34-12 run to defeat the Hawks, 72-67, at Kahl Gym Tuesday night in Troy.
Carly Johnson (Greenville, NY/Greenville Central) erupted for a game- and career-high 29 points in the game. She made 9-of-21 shots, including 5-of-7 three-point attempts, and went 6-of-7 from the free-throw line. She also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and two steals.
In the first quarter, Sage would open up with the first five points 1:22 into the contest. The Hawks closed the gap to two, 7-5, three minutes later and the two teams were separated by two points or less for the final five and a half minutes of the quarter. They both ended the first 10 minutes deadlocked at 17-all.
Caitlin Corbett (Altamont, NY/Guilderland) gave the Hawks a 19-17 edge 13 ticks into the second quarter and 'Wick would hold the advantage until halftime. They would lead by as many as eight, 26-18, after another Corbett bucket. A Kelly Pine (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls) three-pointer at the horn gave the Hawks a 38-34 advantage heading into halftime. Johnson would net 19 points in the half.
A 17-4 Hartwick run to start the third quarter pushed its advantage to 17 points, 55-38, after two Pine free throws with 5:36 left in the period. The Gators netted eight straight points before 'Wick entered the final quarter up nine, 59-50.
The Hawks got the opening basket of the fourth for an 11-point edge. Eight straight Sage points made it a three-point game, 61-58, with 5:23 showing on the clock. The Gators tied the score at 65 with a three-pointer 2:04 later. They went up by two after three offensive rebounds and a put-back but Johnson answered with two free throws at the 1:10 mark. Another offensive board led to the go-ahead basket with 43 seconds left as Sage netted the final five points for the win.
Hartwick slips to 6-17 and 5-9 with the loss. Sage improves to 18-6 and 12-3 in the E8.
Mary Schoenherr (Unionville, CT/Farmington) accounted for 12 points, five steals, four assists, and three boards. Pine finished with 11 points and six rebounds. Corbett ended the night with 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Alexa DuBois (Hobart, NY/South Kortright) netted five points and contributed seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and an assist.
Sage was paced by Emily Parslow, who scored 23 points. Genevieve Schoff added a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. Megan Flynn scored 18 points and Kaitlyn Bowman had 11.
Hartwick will host Houghton College on Friday night at Lambros Arena beginning at 8 p.m.