Hamburg, N.Y. – The Hilbert College women's basketball team wrapped up their season with a tough 68-63 loss to Penn State Altoona. Prior to the start of the contest, seniors Amber Hay and Jenah Labuski were honored for their hard work and dedication to the Hawk's women's basketball program.
 
Hay played two seasons for the Hawks after transferring from Erie Community College. During her time as a Hawk, she played in 47 games and has recorded 109 assists, which puts her in 8th place all-time at Hilbert. She is also in the top-20 for blocked shots, games started, minutes played, minutes averaged, offensive rebounds, and 3-point field goal attempts.
 
Labuski had her season cut-short due to injury for the second year in a row. Despite the shortened career, she has the third most game starts as a Hawk (70) and is fifth all-time for minutes played and sixth for both offensive rebounds and blocked shots
 
The first play of the game was indicative of the type of afternoon Shannon Rogers was going to have. Rogers battled two Lions for the rebound on the defensive end and then went through two more for lay-up on the offensive side, giving the Hawks the 2-0 lead.
 
Two big three-pointers by Altoona's Brittany Boslet gave the Lion's a six point lead (12-6) but Emily Speidel responded with a lay-up on the other end to stop their run.
 
Jennifer Colvin found Wyann Jackson in transition to knot the score at 14. Kelsi Ebert picked Boslet's pocket for an easy score and put the Hawks up two.
 
The teams traded buckets and the lead over the next seven minutes. With Altoona leading 28-24, Rogers fought her way into the paint and for a conventional three-point play. On the next possession, Rogers found Hay for a bucket that gave Hilbert the lead.
 
Hay used her own steal a possession later to score again, helping Hilbert go into the break ahead, 33-32. Rogers already had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds on seven of eight shooting.
 
The Hawks scored on their first three possessions of the second half. Continuing where she left off in the first half, Hay drove hard into the paint for a tough lay-up. Ebert followed the example of the senior for a lay-up of her own. Ebert recorded a steal to find Oakes for two more, giving Hilbert the 39-34 lead only 1:15 into the second half.
 
Speidel knocked down a midrange jumper after grabbing her own offensive rebound, giving the Hawks the eight-point lead (45-37). Altoona scored seven straight to pull within one but Speidel ended their run by finding Jackson in transition for another two.
 
Oakes' three put the Hawks up 50-44, but they gave up the lead with 5:50 left.  Trailing by one, Hilbert easily broke the press and Rogers connected with the hustling Jackson to regain the lead, 57-56. Hay extended the lead to two points off a free throw.
 
Nicole Gripp nailed a deep three but Rogers attacked the press for another lead change. Boslet nailed her sixth three of the afternoon with 4:17 on the clock. Despite her previous strong plays against the press, the Lions left Rogers wide open for an easy jumper to bring about the fifth tie score of the game.
 
The Hawks had a chance to take the lead but a turnover led to a fast break for Altoona. Hay timed the play perfectly and, even though she was outsized, blocked the shot out of bounds.
 
The Lions knocked down two free throws to go up by two with 3:03 remaining. Neither team was able to buy a bucket  and the game got sloppy with turnovers by both squads.
 
Hay snagged a steal with 33 ticks left and attacked the rim, getting herself to the charity stripe. Bringing the Hawks within one, they were forced to foul Altoona who sank both free throws, extending their lead to three.
 
Hilbert could not score on their final possession and, after a couple more freebies for Altoona, the Hawks lost 68-63.
 
Rogers led the Hawks with 21 points  (10-14 from the floor) and 18 rebounds, in addition to three assists, three blocked shots, and two steals. Hay completed her career with 13 points (5-11 from the floor), three assists, two blocks, and two steals. Jackson chipped in another 13 points and seven rebounds.
 
Boslet's 6-11 shooting from long-range helped her reach 26 points to lead all scorers. Gripp finished with 18 points for the Lions and a game-high five assists.
 
Hilbert scored 44 points in the paint, which showed in their 42.4% shooting from the floor. Hilbert won the rebounding battle by one but gave up 21 offensive boards that turned into 20 Altoona points.
 
A big difference in the game was Hilbert's poor shooting from the free throw line, as they finished 5-12, compared to Altoona's 14-20.
 
Hilbert ends their season 2-16 in conference play and 3-20 overall.