Hawks Too Much for BU Women

2/6/2013 (Updated 10:35:23 PM)

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. Nikkia Smith scored a game-high 14 points, leading Hartford (15-8, 6-4 AE) to a 65-50 win over Binghamton (4-19, 3-7 AE) in an America East womens basketball game on Wednesday evening at the Chase Family Arena. The loss marked the second straight setback for the Bearcats, who concluded a stretch of three road games in a row.

Coming into the game averaging 8.9 steals per game, the Hawks forced 22 Binghamton turnovers and recorded 13 steals. In addition, 22 of Hartfords points came off of Bearcat miscues.

Binghamton bounced back from an early 5-0 deficit to go up 11-8 on a three pointer by junior guard Vaneeshia Paulk with 6:38 left in the first half. With the score tied at 14-14, however, the Hawks went on a 12-5 run in the final 4:48 before the break. Smith had four of her points during that stretch.

In the second half, the Hawks stretched their lead to 45-33 on a jumper by Katie Roth with 9:02 left in regulation. Binghamton, however, scored the next five points to pull to within 45-38 at the 8:02 mark. Senior guard Mallory Lawes drained a three-pointer and Paulk converted a turnover into the other two points during that span.

From there, the Hawks held Binghamton scoreless over the next three minutes. In the process, they built their lead back up to 50-38 with 5:22 remaining.

Hartford then shut the door with a 7-0 run to go up 59-43 with 2:31 to go.

Amber Bepko added 12 points in the winning effort.
Paulk finished with a team-best 11 points while Lawes netted 10 points for the second straight game.

Second-chance points also proved pivotal for the Hawks, who finished with a 15-2 advantage in that category.
Binghamton plays its next three games at the Events Center, starting with a 2:30 p.m. game on Saturday against Boston University.

NOTES: Paulk and Smith were named the America East Players of the Game.

(Courtesy Binghamton Athletics)