ELMIRA, N.Y. – After building a slight half time lead, the Hilbert College women's basketball team struggled at the foul line the second half and fell to Elmira College (68-57) tonight in a non-conference road game.

Freshman Katelyn Proy led Hilbert with 16 points, making 8 of 12 shots.  She added three blocks and a steal.  Sophomore Shannon Rogers earned another double-double netting 12 points and grabbing 13 rebounds while dishing three assists. Sophomore point guard Samantha Heiler posted her first double-digit scoring effort with 10 points paired with four assists and three steals.

Elmira's Danielle Cleary lead all scorers with 29 points hitting all 12 free throw attempts to lead the hosts to their first victory in four tries. 

The Hawks were efficient in the first 20 minutes of action.  They shot almost 43% from the floor and held Elmira to 32% FG.

Hilbert, trailing 21-13 in the second quarter, found their urgency and went on a 13-4 run to take a one-point lead, 26-25  to half.  Proy, Rogers and Heilier netted six, five and five points respectively, to elevate the Hawks early.  Lindsay O'Neil was perfect at the foul line adding four points to the Hawks' overall scored at the break.

The purple and gold stormed out of the locker room after the break and shot 41.4% from the field and 59% from the 3-point line to turn a one-point deficit into a comfortable lead.  Proy's layup at 7:46 in the third quarter was Hilbert's final lead in the game (28-27).   Twice the Soaring Eagles built a 10-point spread only to have Rogers and Kelsi Ebert each drop the score to single digits before the start of the fourth quarter.

Any chance for a comeback victory for Hilbert was literally shot-down by the hosts.  Elmira knocked in three 3-pointers to maintain their sizable lead and hold off the Hawks.   While Hilbert went for shots in the paint, the Soaring Eagles connected from the long-ball and sank 7 of 8 foul shots to secure the win.

Turnovers again hurt the Hawks as Elmira scored 23 markers off Hilbert's 21 turnovers.  Even though Hilbert outscored the hosts 36-12 in the paint, Elmira knocked in seven more 3-pointers (8-19) than Hilbert (1-2).

The Hawks have a few days off from practice to travel home or spend time with good friends to enjoy a Thanksgiving holiday.  They return to action November 28 for a double header non-conference contest with the men's teams.  Alfred University, another purple and gold Empire 8 team will be in Hamburg for a 4pm tip against the women's team.