PITTSBURG, Pa. – After falling behind by ten points early, the Hilbert College women's basketball team played point for point with the 6x Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference champions this afternoon.

Kelsi Ebert tossed in 24 points for the Hawks who dropped a 72-61 league game to La Roche College (12-0 AMCC).  After the loss, Hilbert moved to 8-11 overall and slipped to 7th place in the conference with a 5-8 record.

Hilbert controlled the boards with a 30-25 advantage grabbing 10 off the offensive glass.  La Roche was only +2 on 2nd chance points, points in the paint, and points off turnovers.  The Redhawks  though scored 14 points off turnovers while Hilbert converted only six.

Ebert hit 11 of 17 from the floor and added a pair of free throws along with three assists and steals.  Taylor Corts added 13 points and five assists in the loss. Crystle Marion led Hilbert with seven rebounds and earned the Hawks' solo block.

La Roche placed three players in double digits led by Sabrina McLin's 20 points.

The hosts opened the game building a four point lead but Hilbert countered with a 6 point run.  Marion, Ebert and Corts connected and gave the Royal and White the lead at 7:04.  Shannon Rogers stretched the score to 8-5 before La Roche grabbed a 17-8 advantage four minutes later.  Emily Gawlak sank two free throws to close the quarter falling behind 20-10.

La Roche hit a 3-pointer to start the second period yet Hilbert countered with four quick points slicing the difference to single digits (23-14) thanks to Gawlak's and Rogers' buckets in the paint.  Emily Speidel posted two points prior to half time setting a 37-25 score.

The Hawks outworked the Redhawks at the start of the third quarter cutting the hosts lead down to six points (39-33) with 5:42 left.  Corts converted four consecutive foul shots putting Hilbert within reach.  La Roche padded their lead back to 11 points two minutes later but a Corts' traditional three-point play which was followed by a long distance shot by Gawlak inched Hilbert back (48-43).  La Roche responded with a 5-point surge going up 10 by the start of the fourth quarter.

Corts hit a short jumper to start of the final session getting Hilbert under 10 points again.  Ebert put it all on the line scoring 12 points in the final 10 minutes, but the Hawks didn't have enough in the arsenal to take the road win.

Hilbert finished the game hitting 42.9 percent of their shots from the floor but went 1-for-10 behind the arc.  La Roche earned a 49.2 FG% and hit 4-of-14 of their 3-point shots. 

As the Hawks head into a bye-week in the league schedule, they prepare for a non-conference game at Alfred State February 1.  Hilbert will tip at 5:30 pm against the Pioneers.