HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Hilbert College women's basketball team hosted the Barons of Franciscan University  (2-4, 2-1) this afternoon.  The Hawks struggled to find their shooting stroke and dug themselves into a  first half deficit.  Their second-half rally fell shot and the win-less hosts dropped a 68-58 to the visitors.
 
The first half saw back-and-forth action between the two teams. Emily Speidel's free throw at 15:07 gave Hilbert a four-point lead, which was their largest of the night. The Barons went on a 9-0 run, which included two three-pointers by Sarah Schriner, over the next two minutes. Samantha Heiler hit a three-pointer with just over eight minutes left in the half to tie the game at 16. Franciscan generated turnovers and grabbed offensive boards over the next six minutes to gain an eleven-point margin.  The Hawks gave up a three-pointer at the end of the half and trailed 36-22 at the break.
 
The  teams traded buckets to start the second half  and the Barons maintained their large lead. Franciscan's Katie Rhoades hit a jumper to give the Barons their largest lead of the night at 19 (55-36). The Hawks began to extend their pressure and create turnovers of their own to cut into the lead. Markayla Feaster hit a lay-up, followed by five straight points from Hay to cut the lead to 12. Jenah Labuski's lay-up  at 5:33 brought the Hawks within 10, but that was the closest they would come with the final score of 68-58.
 
Hay led the Hawks with 11 points, two steals, and three assists. Shannon Rogers recorded a double-double, scoring ten points and grabbed ten boards, along with three steals. Feaster came off the bench and contributed eight points and ten caroms, while Speidel added seven points and three assists.
 
That Hawks shot 33 percent from the floor, while the Barons shot 43 percent, included 47 percent from beyond the arc.
 
Hilbert (0-6, 0-3) finishes their first semester of play at D'Youville at 6pm on Monday, December 15.