HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Hilbert College women's basketball team improved to 11-5 overall and stayed on top of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference league standings (9-1) after the Hawks posted a 66-41 victory over Pitt.-Bradford tonight.

With the win, the women's basketball team established a new Hilbert AMCC win record and tied the program's overall win mark under first-year head coach Amy Senefelder.

Prior to today's contest, the women's basketball team had held their opponents to just 57 points per game and the #1 spot in the league.  Defense was the name of the game for Hilbert according to coach Senefelder.

Emily Gawlak led the Hawks with 38 minutes of full 90-feet of hustle.  She collected three steals while posting 20 points, four assists and grabbed seven rebounds. 

Kelsi Ebert was up to the challenge of defending Bradford's Ali Rinfrette, the AMCC Preseason Player of the Year who leads the AMCC in scoring.  Ebert locked her down the entire contest, drew a pair of offensive charges and limited her to 13 points (4-of-15 from the floor).   Ebert's offensive production suffered (1-of-11), but she was still able to distribute the ball for eight assists while grabbing seven rebounds and two steals, also in 38 minutes.

Ashley Repine was a beast in the paint.  She scored 16 points, pulled in 13 rebounds (five offensive), was credited with four blocked shots and two steals.  Katelyn Proy, who battled foul trouble early in the third quarter stayed in there and finished the game with six points, and eight rebounds.

Taylor Corts, still hampered by injury, was tough for 36 minutes, scoring seven points and earning nine rebounds.

The Hawks started the game slowly in the first quarter, but improved their offensive production as the night moved along.  Hilbert outscored the Panthers 21-8 in the final session after playing to a 45-33 score through three quarters.

After building a three-point lead (10-7) by the start of the second quarter, Hilbert then limited Bradford to only six second-session points.  The Hawks went to the locker room with a 23-13 lead in a low scoring first half.   Repine was 4-for-5 from the floor and had already collected seven rebounds in 14 minutes.

Both teams found their offensive rhythm with a 22-20 scoring push in the third quarter.  Hilbert maintained their defensive mindset which ultimately opened up their offensive transition game.  Gawlak knocked down back-to-back threes to open the fourth and created break away lay-ups for Repine down the stretch which put the game out of reach.

The Hawks out-worked Bradford on the glass tonight.  Hilbert held an 18-rebound advantage (54-36) against the league-leaders as all five Hilbert starters churned in seven or more rebounds for the game. 

Hilbert returns to the road this weekend when they battle Penn State Altoona (6-7, 3-6) January 20.  The Hawks earned a 59-50 victory over the Lions in December.

Be sure to stay up-to-date on all your Hilbert Hawks scores and awards by following @HilbertAthletic on Twitter and by liking the "Hilbert College Athletics" Facebook page.  Additionally, fans of the Hawks who have an Apple device can receive push notification from the newly created Hilbert College Hawks iOS SIDEARM mobile App which can be found in the Apple Store and ITunes.