PITTSBURGH, Pa - The Hilbert College women's basketball team dropped their first Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference game of the season (76-54) at La Roche College (4-1 AMCC - 5-5 overall) today.
The Hawks had trouble holding onto the ball and running an offensive pattern as they battled 40 minutes without a starter who was injured in pregame warm-ups.
Taylor Corts opened the scoring for Hilbert with a make beyond the arc giving the Hawks their only lead in the game.
Four Hilbert turnovers and two missed shots later, La Roche built a 12-3 lead half way through the first session. The Hawks then in went on a 10-2 run and trimmed the difference to one point (14-13) before the second frame started.
Natassia West's offensive rebound-put back cut the score again to just one point (18-17) at the 7 minute mark. Five more Hilbert turnovers lowered their chance for a come back and they went to the locker room down 29-22.
After trading hoops at the start of the third quarter, La Roche went on another run and built a 44-26 advantage by 6:17. The Hawks pounded the ball inside and made it an 11-point game just three minutes later before a media timeout.
The Redhawks closed the quarter sinking three consecutive 3-pointers to outscore Hilbert 30-15 after 10 minutes of action.
Alayna DeFazio hit a short baseline jumper for Hilbert's first bucket in the final quarter before Hilbert went 13-14 from the foul line. Twice the Hawks were able to make it a 20-point game, but that was as close as they got.
The Hawks turned the ball over 26 times and hit only one of six 3-pointers in the game. On the bright side, Hilbert converted 21-of-25 free throws and were credited with a season-high 11 blocks.
La Roche finished the game shooting 51% from the field, and 6-of-14 from downtown. The Redhawks collected 18 steals, many of which were converted into fastbreak points at the other end.
Ashley Repine and
Taylor Corts reached double figure points, scoring 11 and 10 respectively. Repine and
Katelyn Proy each pulled down eight rebounds, but Proy added nine blocks, eight points and four steals.
Alayna DeFazio knocked down 2-of-3 from the floor and hit 5-of-6 at the foul line for nine points.
The 9-3 Hawks fall to 4-1 in AMCC standings and fall into a 3-way tie with La Roche and Pitt-Bradford as they approach the holiday break. Hilbert returns to action January 5 when they host Franciscan University at 1pm in the Hafner Recreation Center.
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