HAMBURG, N.Y. - The Hilbert College women's basketball battled back to take the lead in the third quarter, but couldn't maintain their offensive intensity as the Hawks dropped the 84-69  AMCC Game of the Week to undefeated La Roche University this afternoon.

THE BASICS
⦁    Final Score: Hilbert 69 |  La Roche 84
⦁    Location:  Kerr Fitness Center, La Roche University
⦁    Records: Hilbert College 11-4 (8-2 AMCC) La Roche 10-4 (10-0 AMCC)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Emily Gawlak posted a season-high 30 points without hitting any three point shots and Taylor Corts chipped in 22 points (5-of-8 3-pt) as Hilbert's primary scorers today.
• The Hawks were credited with a season-low 10 turnovers but couldn't convert on the scoreboard.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After three lead changes, La Roche took command (8-6) and stretched their lead  to 12-6 after the Hawks went cold from the floor early in the first quarter.
• The Redhawks earned six points off eight attempts from the foul line, knocked in two deep and scored off a dump in the paint as Corts drilled a pair of shots beyond the arc at the end of the session but La Roche built a 26-16 advantage after ten minutes.
• After stretching their lead to 14 points (39-25), the Redhawks pounded the ball in the paint because Hilbert had no answer defensively.
• Corts again closed the quarter with five points spaced over 35-seconds yet the hosts still maintained their 13-point lead by intermission.
• Emily Gawlak, Macy Kisner and Ashley Repine pulled HIlbert within 11 points just before Corts connected twice at the foul line, trimming the difference to nine (40-49) in the third session. 
• After trading buckets, Gawlak finished an old fashioned 3-point play and Corts struck from deep setting a  50-53 score.
• After two minutes of scoreless action, Macy Kisner blocked a shot, grabbed the defensive rebound and set up the offense at the other end of the floor.  Gawlak converted off a Corts pass in the paint and forced a La Roche timeout with 2:32 left (52-53).
• Corts sprinted up the floor and planted her feet, drawing an offensive charge against the hosts but the Hawks came up empty on their next offensive possession.
• Ashley Schroeder finished a nice step-back three to knot the game (55-55) and Gawlak lifted the Hawks 58-57 at the start of the final session with another 3-point play.
• La Roche pounded the ball inside the paint, whether off transition or from high/low offensive sets and built a 74-59 margin with 4:35 left in the game.
• Gawlak scored the Hawks' six points (FT and bucket and another 3-pt play) with 3:30 left, inching her team within ten points again.
• But Hilbert continued to struggle in the paint on offense and Demi Battin added two freebies at 1:43 while Corts drilled a deep shot for the final points for Hilbert.

GAME NOTES

• Stats at half time reflected the pace of the game for the first 20-minutes.
• Both teams shot mid-40's from the floor, hitting 13 and 14 attempts.  Each team connected three times beyond the arc, but the Redhawks spent much more time at the charity stripe.  The hosts controlled the glass, credited with a 26-12 advantage with an 11-3 edge on the offensive end as La Roche went 14-of-18 at the foul line while Hilbert made only three trips and shot 50-percent (3-of-6).  
• By the final horn, Hilbert hit 39.4-percent from the floor (26-66) and 11-of-15 from the charity stripe.  La Roche sank 28-of-60 from the field (46.7%) and sank 23-of-29 freebies.
• The Redhawks won the battle of the boards (47-31) and held an 18-7 advantage in fast break points.

WHAT'S NEXT

Hilbert, ranked second in the AMCC, has one day to prepare for their 4pm tip against Franciscan University (5-9, 3-6) on Monday, January 20th in the Hafner Recreation Center.

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