HUNTINGDON, Pennsylvania - December 30, 2022 - A dominant first half fueled Hiram in a 50-44 win over Elmira on day one of the Comfort Inn Classic on Friday night.

The Terriers outscored their opposition by 14 points (16-2) in the first quarter and 32-13 for the entire first half to help improve their record to a season-best 6-4. The team shot 53.8% (14-26) in the first half while holding Elmira to a 20.8% clip (5-24) during that span.

It continues a recent trend of strong defense; Hiram held Waynesburg to 39 points on Dec. 20 before holding Elmira to 44 points after a 9-day break from action. The Eagles would fight back in the second half and pull within single digits, making Friday the first single-digit victory of the season for head coach Alex Dellas and company.

Brooke Hickman had her 3rd straight double-double and 8th of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds. The sophomore has scored in double-figures in all but one game throughout her young career at Hiram.

Maddie Rakestraw added 11 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in her 3rd start of the season. Freshman Lizzy Scharer also filled the stat sheet off the bench, recording 12 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

The combo of Hickman and Rakestraw combined for 12 of the team's 16 points in the first quarter outburst. Scharer and Haley Thompson filled out the rest of the scoring by each making a field goal in the quarter.

Thompson rattled off another 6 points in the second quarter, including a jumper in the final moments of the period to give the Terriers a 19-point lead (32-13) heading into the intermission. Thompson's 40% FG pct in the game was her 2nd-best mark of the season, trailing a 50% mark against St. John Fisher back in early November.

The big lead was enough to carry Hiram to the finish line; Scharer helped the team finish the non-conference affair with 6 points in the final frame alone.

The Terriers will play their second game of the Comfort Inn Classic on Saturday at 4 p.m. against the hosts of the event, Juniata College.