BUFFALO, N.Y. – Kelsi Ebert and Shannon Rogers led the Hilbert College (9-10, 5-7 AMCC) women's basketball team in their 55-53 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference loss at D'Youville College (7-12, 4-8 AMCC) tonight.  In an extremely close game from the tip-off to final horn, the Spartans' extended-defensive pressure slowed the Hawks down enough for the hosts to grab a two-point victory.

Statistically, this game couldn't have been any closer.  But the difference down the stretch was the depth on the bench as D'Youville got point production (12 points) from the 10-women who stepped on the floor while Hilbert went seven players deep with only five Hawks putting points on the board.

After D'Youville took a 16-15 lead into the start of the second quarter, Hilbert worked their way back to an even score at half time.  The Hawks scored 11 points and held the Spartans to 10 in the second quarter.

The third quarter played out as the first two did, but Hilbert hustled their way to another one-point lead by the start of the fourth quarter. 

After the Hawks missed a deep three, D'Youville grabbed the defensive rebound but Shannon Rogers dove to the ground after a loose ball and was credited with a steal.  She tossed the ball out to Samantha Heiler (40 minutes) who passed cross-court to Katelyn Proy who was wide open on the opposite block.  Her lay-up beat the clock and gave the Hawks a 35-34 advantage.

Ebert's jumper gave Hilbert a new three-point lead early in the final period.  D'Youville went on a 5-0 run and then Ebert and Rogers forced the final tie at 5:25 (41-41).

A big possession for D'Youville was when they had a five-point lead at 1:54 left;  they grabbed an offensive rebound after their missed shot and kept the ball out of Hilbert's hands. 

The Hawks had to foul after that play. The Spartans went 6-for-8 in the final minute to preserve their seven point lead.  Ebert (should have been credited with an offensive rebound put-back off a 3-point missed shot from the point) scored a jumper in the paint (55-50) and then stole the inbounds pass before dishing to Wyann Jackson for a 3-pointer at the horn.

There were 10 lead changes and six ties in the game.   

Hilbert claimed victories in 2nd chance points (11-10), rebounds (41-40), offensive rebounds (13-7).  But the Spartans edged the Hawks in several other stat-lines. Points in the paint (30-28), bench points (12-5), free throws (11 for 15 vs. Hilbert's 10 for 14), and blocks (4-3).

Each team was credited with seven steals.

Ebert led the Hawks with 19 points and seven assists.  Rogers chipped in 17 points and 11 rebounds.  Katelyn Proy added 12 rebounds and finished with three blocks padding her first year numbers.

The women's basketball team returns to Hamburg this weekend when they host Franciscan University Jan 30 at 4pm.