STEUBENVILLE, OH - Ashley Repine scored a career-high 28 points to lead the Hilbert Hawks to a 69-54  Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference victory over Franciscan University this afternoon.

The Hawks improved to 13-3 and 18-4 overall while they dropped the Barons to 2-13 in the league and 2-19 overall. 

Repine, who notched 11-of-19 shooting from the field and 6-of-8 at the foul line earned her fifth consecutive double double after scoring 28 points along with 12 rebounds, eight earned on the offensive glass.

Emily Gawlak chipped in 22 points, leading the team with a 63.6 percent connection (7-for-11) with her three misses tagged from beyond the arc. 

Taylor Corts earned her second double double with 12 points, 11 rebounds (five offensive) and finished with a team-best three steals while Katelyn Proy led the Hawks with three assists while scoring seven points.

The Hawks dominate the boards, winning the battle, 45-30 after doubling up the hosts 16-8 on the offensive end but, even after outscoring the hosts three of the four quarters, Hilbert never really put the game away.

Gawlak's five points  fueled Hilbert's 7-0 run at the start of the game and the Hawks stretched their lead to 11 (15-4) at 3:13.

Franciscan scored four unanswered points at the start of the second quarter and pulled within seven (17-10) before both teams traded buckets the rest of the half. 

Hilbert held a 28-20 advantage at the break, shot only 31.4 percent from the field, but connected on four 3-pointers while limiting the Barons from beyond the arc (0-5) and preventing them from attempting any free throws.

Hilbert worked for nine offensive rebounds and built a 26-14 margin on the glass.

The third quarter started with five Hilbert turnovers and two Repine makes from the foul line which resulted in the hosts knotting the game at 30-30 after five minutes of action.

After each team traded hoops, the Barons took their first lead in the game 34-32 at 3:33. 

Gawlak responded with a deep shot in front of the Hawks bench to swing the score in Hilbert's favor one minute later and Repine finished a three-point play after going 1-for-2 at the line to start a Royal and White run. 

Gawlak sank back-to-back 3-pointers before Proy made a pair at the foul line  which lifted Hilbert back into an double digit lead (47-34) by the start of the final session.

A few empty Hilbert possessions allowed the Barons to pull within 10 points again at 6:41.  The Hawks tightened their defense, forced two turnovers and Proy picked up another block which led to a Hilbert conversion at the other end.

The Hawks then got too comfortable at both ends of the floor and allowed the Barons to hang around.  Where Franciscan was hustling for offensive rebounds and loose balls which turned into easy points, they had no answer for Repine who pushed in 13 points the fourth quarter giving Hilbert the cushion it needed.

Hilbert continues to sit in a two-way tie with La Roche for the top seed heading into the AMCC play-offs.  The Hawks close their season at home this week with a Buffalo Cup game against D'Youville College February 13 before they honor their two seniors, Morgan McNeill and Katelyn Proy, next Saturday, February 16 when they host Pitt-Greensburg.

Hilbert has locked up a spot in the AMCC Final Four Weekend, as they will finish either in 1st place and host the AMCC tournament or have to travel to La Roche College for the Saturday/Sunday, February 23/24th Championship Tournament.

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