STEUBENVILLE, Ohio – For the second time this week, the Hilbert College women's basketball team captured an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference victory. The Hawks trailed most of the game but battled back to take a late-game lead and held on to win 69-67 and improved to 2-11.
Amber Hay came off the bench and made 2-of-3 three point attempts, while sinking six of eight from the foul line. She collected 18 points and five steals to lead the come-back win.
Shannon Rogers added 17 points and 16 rebounds as she and Hay were team leaders in assists (three).
Haley Oakes and
Kelsi Ebert each reach double figures scoring 13 and 10 points respectively.
Hilbert finished the game shooting 38% (35.7% 3-point). They sank 19 shots from the floor while Franciscan connected on 25 of their 55 shots (45.5% FG). The difference in the game came down to the foul line as Hilbert made 26 of 40 shots and the Barons settled for 10 of 13 attempts.
Hilbert held a slight rebounding advantage, grabbed 16 steals and dished for 10 assists. The Hawks were whistled for 18 fouls while the hosts limped through the game with 27 personal fouls called between nine different players.
Both teams traded baskets the first 10 minutes of the game.
Haley Oakes knocked down a three-pointer to knot the game at 16 all at 12:29.
The Barons scored eight unanswered points before
Shannon Rogers responded with a jumper to cut the difference to six.
Franciscan (4-8) rode a wave of energy to the break and twice built a 14-point advantage with less than five minutes left in the first half. Hilbert closed out the period sinking 6-of-8 free throws to stay in the game but trailed 41-30.
Three different Barons put points on the board just after the break to help Franciscan build its largest lead of the game (47-30).
Wyann Jackson's free throw stopped the Hawks' bleeding and started a huge Hilbert run which started a 15:43.
The Hawks outscored the Barons 15-0 and found themselves down 47-45 by 8:02.
Amber Hay led the balanced attack with the first 3-point bucket and ended the run with another long distance dial-up.
The hosts built a quick six-point lead before Hay scored twice and
Emily Speidel forced the second tie of the half.
Both teams traded free throws their next offensive possessions and then Hilbert's offense clicked.
Rogers put together an old fashioned three point play and Hay connected twice at the charity stripe.
Kelsi Ebert chipped in another bucket to give the Hawks a 5-point lead with 3:05 left.
Good defense and strong free throw shooting down the stretch led to the Hilbert win.
Hilbert returns to the hard wood this week Wednesday, February 4 when they host Pitt-Bradford at 6pm. Their home-stand continues when they host the top-ranked La Roche College Saturday, February 7 at 2pm.