UTICA, NY – Thanks in large part to Caitlin Corbett's (Altamont, NY/Guilderland) career-high 34 points on a staggering 13-of-16 shooting and 7-of-10 from three, as well as her game-high 12 rebounds, the Hartwick women's basketball team won its seventh in a row, beating Utica College, 89-77. With the win, the Hawks are 14-3 and have matched their best start through 17 games since the 2013-14 season, when they tied for first place in the Empire 8 Conference. The Hawks are 7-1 in conference, leading second-place Stevens Institute of Technology by a game in the standings. The Pioneers dropped their sixth in a row, falling to 6-10 (1-6 E8).
Foreshadowing the rest of the game, Corbett opened up the contest with a three pointer 22 seconds in. The score was knotted at seven points apiece when Hartwick did what they do so often, going on an 11-0 run to take control of the game. Carly Johnson (Greenville, NY/Greenville Central) started it off with a jumper, then grabbed a defensive rebound on the other hand and fired it out to Corbett who layed it in for two on the fast break. A little under a minute later Johnson hit a three, and was followed up on the next possession by a lay-up from Maggie Kirby (Selkirk, NY/Bethlehem), assisted by Corbett. Kelly Pine (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls) finished the run with a jumper just past the halfway point of the quarter. Hartwick extended their lead out to 14 after a Corbett three with 2:42 to go, but Utica went on a 9-0 run of their own to close the period, making the score 23-18 after one. The teams went back and forth in the second period, with the Pioneers closing the gap to as little as four after Alayna Cormier made a lay-up under five minutes in and the Hawks leading by as much as 13 after (what else?) a Corbett three-pointer with 1:05 to go. Headed into the half, 'Wick led by eight, 40-32.
Hartwick led by between 12 and 15 points for most of the third quarter, but once again Utica stayed in it, closing the period on a 9-0 run that ended on a Sydney Przygoda buzzer-beater to make the score 65-59. The Pioneers made it a one possession game under two minutes into the final quarter when Brigid Johndrow hit from deep to cut the Utica deficit to 67-64. The Hawks responded again, scoring the next five points on a Johnson jumper and three free throws by Pine and Maggie Kirby. After yet another Corbett three with 5:26 left in the game, Hartwick was in full control, up 78-67. The lead never dipped below eight for the rest of the night, as 'Wick iced the game thanks to made free throws and a couple clutch three-pointers from Johnson and Pine.
Corbett's night was one of the best in Hartwick history. Her 34 points were just four shy of the program record, held by Gina Burrows, who scored 38 against Stony Brook on February 1, 1986. With this explosion, she has 975 career points, and should soon join her teammate Johnson in the 1000 point club. The seven three-pointers is just one off of Kait Veit's record eight, done against Salem on November 20, 2010. Thirteen field goals is three behind Maggie Nichols' record 16 against Le Moyne on February 20, 1992. All of the above are team highs for the season, and her 12 rebounds (five offensive) are tied with her own performance against Smith for the second-highest individual total this year, behind her 14 against Mount Saint Mary on December 14. She also threw in three assists for good measure, tied for third on the team.
Although she was a bit overshadowed by Corbett, Johnson had a strong evening as well, putting up 25 points, one shy of her season-high. This was her seventh 20-point outing of the season, and the third in her last five games. She had three three-pointers, giving her 159 for her career, within striking distance of Kate Purcell's program record 166. Johnson also had five rebounds, three assists, and a block. Maggie Kirby was the third Hawk in double digits, putting up a strong line of 11 points, seven rebounds, and a career-high four assists. Mary Schoenherr (Unionville, CT/Farmington) had a well-rounded night, potting eight points, leading the team with six assists, and grabbing seven boards. Pine finished with nine points, four rebounds, and an assist.
Surpassing 85 points for the third straight game, Hartwick had a strong shooting night, making 45.1% from the field and 41.9% from three-point land. Utica shot 40.0% overall and 30.0% from deep. The Hawks outrebounded the Pioneers, 41-34 (14-13 offensive), and had a narrow lead in second-chance points, 21-16. Both teams were very protective of the ball, as Hartwick turned the ball over only seven times and Utica just six. The hosts had a distinct advantage off of turnovers, however, outscoring 'Wick 11-5 off of them. They also led in fast break points, 18-8, although it ultimately did not boost them to victory.
Nicolette Conkin had an eye-popping 17 assists for Utica, accounting for over 65% of her team's total. She also scored six points and led her team with eight rebounds and three steals. The primary beneficiaries of Conkin's dimes were her four teammates in double digits, Kimberly Soriano (17 points), Przygoda (16), Briannah Florian (16), and Johndrow (12). Pryzgoda also grabbed six rebounds on the night, while Johndrow had five rebounds and five assists.
The Hawks will try and match the 2012-13 team's start to the season next, as they started out 15-3 through 18 games. 'Wick will try and get revenge on Nazareth College, the only Empire 8 foe to beat them this year, when the Golden Flyers come to town for a game on Friday, January 25, at 5:30 p.m.
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