HAMBURG, N.Y. –  The Hilbert College women's basketball team held their own for three quarters against the 2nd ranked team, but the Hawks surrendered 35-fourth quarter points and suffered a 75-66 defeat to Penn State Behrend tonight. 

Hilbert built a 4-point half time lead and extended it to six points heading into the final session, but the Lions suddenly found their shooting touch beyond the arc to collect their 12th AMCC victory (12-5) while they dropped the Hawks to 6-11 in the league and out of any possible play-off hopes.

Kelsi Ebert led the charge with 18 points hitting 7-of-13 from the floor (with one long distance shot) and hitting 75% from the foul line.  Katelyn Proy went 38-minutes and scored 13 points and added three blocks

While Shannon Rogers' time was limited due to first half foul trouble, she added 12 points (6-6 at the charity stripe).  Samantha Heiler hit some big shots at the end of the first and second quarters and collected 11 points.

Senior Wyann Jackson chipped in eight points and led the Hawks with seven rebounds.  Jackson left it all out on the floor in her final game in the Hafner Recreation Center prior to her stepping off the court one last time.

Hilbert (10-14) started the game fast and held the lead until Behrend knotted the score at 8-8 just four minutes into the game.  The Lions took their first lead 12-10 at the foul line and held that lead until Heiler sank her first long-ball with four seconds remaining in the first quarter to set the start of the second session tied at 18-each.

Each team traded buckets and turns with the lead in the second quarter until Heiler regained the lead 27-25 thanks to her make from behind the three-point line.  She padded the separation to four with a lay-up in the paint for the 29-25 half time score.

The Hawks shot 41% from the floor while holding the Lions to 29%.  Behrend was outrebounding Hilbert 26-13 after 20 minutes of action and sank only one three-pointer.

Hilbert built their largest lead of seven off Ebert's success at the foul line with 4:36 to go in the third.  Behrend knocked down a three, then Wyann Jackson dialed-up herself to give the Hawks a 9-point lead (46-37) with 1:07 left.  Less than 15-seconds later, the Lions responded again from deep to head to the fourth quarter down by just six points.

In the final ten minutes of action, The Lions spent most of their time mainly around the foul line and beyond the arc.  They converted 17 of 18 free throw attempts and sank four 3-pointers to combine for 29 of the team's 35 points to close the game.  

Hilbert missed 12 of their 18 shots in the final period and when Ebert and Heiler connected twice in the final 40-seconds of the game, the Hawks gained six more points on the board.

For the first time this season, Hilbert was outrebounded by a large margin.  Behrend grabbed 46 rebounds and limited Hilbert to 29.  The Hawks took care of the ball as they were credited with a season-low 11 turnovers.

Hilbert will close their 2015-16 season with a road game at Penn State Altoona on Saturday, February 20.  The Hawks will look to sweep the Lions whom they defeated 64-50 in Hamburg.