NEWBURGH, NY – Hartwick ended up on the wrong side of an up-and-down affair Friday evening, as the Mount Saint Mary College Knights catapulted out of halftime on an 11-3 run to turn a tie game into a comfortable lead, eventually winning by ten, 57-47. The Hawks suffered just their second loss of the season, falling to 5-2. Mount Saint Mary continued their impressive season, winning their seventh straight game to make their record 8-2.
The teams were evenly-matched through the first six-plus minutes, as 'Wick led 9-6 with 3:43 to go in the first after a Kelly Pine (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls) free throw. The Knights then took control of the game for the first time, ending the quarter on a 10-0 run to go up 16-9. Mount Saint Mary extended its lead to 22-11 through the first portion of the second quarter, but from then until the buzzer it was all Hartwick. Caitlin Corbett (Altamont, NY/Guilderland) had a pair of baskets and a free throw to cut the lead to five with 3:25 to go in the half. After Mary Schoenherr (Unionville CT/Farmington) hit a jumper for her first points of the night, Molly Kirby (Selkirk, NY/Bethlehem) and Taylor Kurs (Rego Park, NY/Archbishop Molloy) each had a steal and a lay-up to tie the game at 22 apiece going into the break.
The Knights started the third quarter hot, as Kayla Cleare hit two baskets and Elizabeth Limonta made a lay-up to grab a six-point lead three minutes in. After Kirby hit a three, Annie Keenan made a jumper in the paint and Lauren Desrats hit from beyond the three-point arc to extend the lead to eight. Mount Saint Mary held steady for the rest of the period, at one point leading by 12 but eventually taking a ten-point lead into the final period.
The fourth quarter was more of the same, with neither team able to gain an advantage, and each scoring 16 points. The Hawks were able to cut the lead down to as little as six after Pine hit a three-pointer with 1:03 left, but the Knights were able to hit enough free throws to hold 'Wick at bay until the end of the game.
Corbett led the team in all of the big three categories, playing the entire game and securing a double-double in the process. She had 12 points, a game- and career-high 14 rebounds, and a game-high four assists. Kirby was the only other Hawk with double-digit points, scoring ten while grabbing five rebounds and tying for the game high with a pair of steals. Pine also had a fine evening, scoring eight points and gathering six rebounds.
Mount Saint Mary outshot Hartwick from the field, 33.3% to 29.0%. Neither team shot all that well from three-point land, although the Hawks had the better time out there, 23.1% to 10.0%. Both teams were over 70% from the charity stripe, with the Knights edging 'Wick, 73.9% to 71.4%, although Mount Saint Mary had 23 attempts to Hartwick's seven. The Knights also won the rebounding battle, 47-39, with each team achieving double-digit offensive boards. Both teams forced 15 turnovers, but Mount Saint Mary was able to convert more effectively after them, outscoring Hartwick 23-12 off of turnovers. The Knights also had a sizeable advantage in points in the paint, 30-18.
Cleare and Limonta shared the scoring lead for the night, with 14 apiece, both on over 50% shooting. Limonta had a double-double, grabbing 11 rebounds as well as a block and a steal. Cleare had seven rebounds and a game-high two blocks. Keenan also had a double-double, posting twelve points and twelve rebounds.
The Hawks travel next to sunny St. Petersburg, Florida, where they will play their final games of 2018 in the St. Pete Classic, hosted by Eckerd College. On Wednesday, December 19, at 11 a.m., Hartwick takes on John Carroll University, followed by a meeting with Olivet College on Wednesday, December 20 at 3 p.m.
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