PITTSFORD, N.Y. - The Hilbert College women's basketball team returned to the hardwood tonight after a two-week break and they lasted through over time to pull off the program's first-ever victory over Nazareth College on the road.

The Hawks sprinted to a 36-23 half time advantage and stretched that lead to double-digits before the Golden Flyers struck from deep to force overtime. 

Kelsi Ebert put the game away with a pair of free throws in the final seconds to claim a 67-65 victory for Hilbert who improved to 6-6 after the non-conference victory over their third straight Empire 8 opponent this year.

Kelsi Ebert posted her career-high 30 points and earned her first double-double with 10 rebounds.  She was three steals shy of a triple double but hit 10-19 from the floor (2 of 3 deep) and sank 8-of-14 at the foul line to carry the Hawks to victory.

Katelyn Proy added 13 points and eight rebounds before leaving the game late with fouls.  Crystle Marion stepped up and  chipped in nine points, four rebounds, as well as a pair of assists and blocks.

Ebert got the Hawks on the board off a step-back three-pointer just 14 seconds into the game.  Both teams were shaky after that opening score either turning the ball over or missing open shots. Proy lifted Hilbert with a bucket before Ebert took over. 

The Hamburg native converted two steals into break away lay ups and sank penetration jumpers while getting to the foul line.  Hilbert held a 14-10 advantage after 10 minutes with Ebert posting 12 of the visitor's points.

Taylor Corts found the bottom of the net from downtown just as Ebert had at the start of the second quarter.  Ebert banked her shot off penetration from wing and Proy went hard to hole giving Hilbert a 5-point lead.  On the Hawks' next offensive possession, Crystle Marion turned what looked like a sure Hilbert turnover along the baseline into a three-point play after she sank the free throw.  Hilbert closed the second half with a 10-7 run to build a 36-23 advantage.

Nazareth looked like they had regrouped after the break as they started the second half with two quick buckets and drew an offensive foul.  But Ebert then broke the Golden Flyer's momentum with her third steal at the point which she turned into two points at the offensive end again.

As they had earlier in the game, both teams struggled with unforced turnovers and missed jumpers for several trips down the floor.  Ebert went 2-of-3 from the foul line to build a ten-point spread as each team traded buckets until the quarter break with Hilbert up 45-37.

Nazareth then hit back-to-back buckets at the start of the 4th quarter to cut the game to 45-41.

Proy sandwiched a pair of shots in the paint around Taylor Corts' driving lay-up as they stretched the game back to 10 points again with just under six minutes to go.

Naz made things interesting by hitting three consecutive 3-point shots slicing the score to 56-55 as Proy fouled out.  Nazareth knotted the game hitting the second of two free throws.

After a Hilbert turnover, Nazareth was called for an offensive foul.  Even after those turnovers, both teams still had one final look each at the hoop but the game headed to overtime at 56-56.

Emily Speidel gave Hilbert a 2-point lead to start the extra session.  The Golden Flyers took their first lead off another 3-pointer from the point but Emily Gawlak responded with her own long ball posting a 61-59 lead. 

The Golden Flyers set-up a score off a flex cut in the paint setting another even game.  Galwak and Ebert both went 1 of 2 at the foul line for a 63-61 lead with 36 seconds  left but Naz forced another tie with a jumper in the paint.

Marion hit a nice jumper off a middle spin which pushed Hilbert ahead with 22 seconds yet, once again the hosts matched Hilbert's offensive efforts hitting a runner in the paint.

Hilbert gave the ball the Ebert on the last possession and she was fouled on penetration to the hoop with 6.4 seconds to go.  The horn sounded before Nazareth could force another over time session.

The Hawks finished with a 40.7 field goal percentage and made only 15 of 25 free throws (60%).  They out rebounded Nazareth 47-42 and held the hosts to a 33.3% shooting on the night.

Hilbert (6-6, 3-3) returns to AMCC action this weekend when they host Pitt-Greensburg (4-9, 3-3) Saturday, January 7 at 1pm in the Hafner.