HAMBURG, N.Y. – Hilbert College placed four players in double-digits, but the Hawks weren't able to protect the paint as they suffered an 84-75 loss to Penn State Altoona this afternoon.
Kelsi Ebert connected on 12 of her 14 free throw attempts to post team-high honors, 18 points and her third double-double with 11 rebounds. She and
Taylor Corts (15 points) shared the ball well as they each tallied four assists.
Emily Gawlak knocked in 14 points and finished with three steals while
Ashley Repine tossed in 12 along with a trio of steals.
The Hawks opened the game on top building a 15-point lead with 2:20 left in the first session. Hilbert pushed the ball early and broke the Lions full-court pressure defense, but Altoona fought back and closed on a 7-0 run. Hilbert surrendered a 3-point shot before the horn yet still took a 22-14 quarter break lead.
Altoona responded in the second 10-minutes with a quicker-pace game plan and ran stride for stride with the Hawks, outscoring them 28-16 building a 42-38 lead by intermission.
Hilbert connected on almost 36% of their shots reaching for 10 beyond the arc (making only 1). Altoona worked for a 53.6 field goal percentage hitting 15 of 28 shots (4-9 beyond the arc). Hilbert earned a season low six turnovers after 20 minutes of action and went 9-9 at the foul line.
Altoona pounded the ball inside in the third quarter, whether off the bounce or off a lob pass and outscored the Hawks 21-8. Megan Wheeler hit from each block and 14 feet out to post game-high 24 points.
But Hilbert had fight in their legs and heart for the game and battled back, outscoring the Lions 29-21 in the last quarter, but it was too little, too late.
The Hawks shooting touch slipped to 26.2 percent and they hit 13 of 19 free throws in the second half.
Hilbert pulled in 32 offensive rebounds, almost as many as Altoona collected on for the game (36). The Hawks finished with 14 steals and 11 turnovers.
The women's basketball team has to gear up for their rematch against Medaille College this Wednesday, January 25 in the Hafner Recreation Center. The Hawks (8-9, 5-6) claimed the first Buffalo Cup points with their 71-60 victory in early December.