Hawks Hold Off Blazers

Leicester, Mass. - The Becker College Hawks defeated the Elms College Blazers 57-50 in New England Collegiate Conference women's basketball action at Alumni Gymnasium. The Hawks pick up their second win of the season to improve to 2-10 (2-1 NECC), Elms dropped to 3-10 (2-2 NECC).

Elms held a 5-0 lead for the first four minutes of the game. Senior Annie Dunnack (Mansfield, Conn.) hit a three pointer right off the opening tip and Katie Condon (Sandy Hook, Conn.) put back a rebound for the lead. Becker tied it at five with back-to-back baskets by freshman Katelyn Cavanaugh (Belchertown, Mass.) and took their first lead at the twelve minute mark on a hoop by forward Heidi Miller (Sanbornton, NH). The Hawks built their lead to seven points before Elms tied it at 12. Becker outscored the Blazers 13-4 over the rest of the half and when senior Courtney Fiske (Westfield, Mass.) hit a 3 point shot with less than a minute remaining Becker held a nine point cushion going into the locker room.

Becker's Fiske continued her hot shooting from behind the arc hitting another two to start the second half and built the Becker lead to 15 points. Elms then turned up the defense and outscored Becker 15-3 to cut the lead to 34-31 with just under 10 minutes remaining. A minute later Blazers' Dunnack and Carolyn Talmadge (Wilbraham, Mass.) hit consecutive 3 pointers to trim it to two points, 39-37. The Hawks then proved to be too much outscoring the Blazers 18-13 over the last five minutes to finish with the 57-50 win.

The Hawks were outrebounded 48-41and both teams had 11 steals.

The Hawks were led by Fiske who finished with a game high 14 points, 4 assists and 3 steals; Cavanaugh with 11 points; and Miller who had 10 points and 8 rebounds.

Elms was led by senior Erin Hutchinson (Groton, Mass.) who had a game high 10 rebounds and 4 steals; Talmadge with 14 points and 9 rebounds and Dunnack and Jen Normandie (Westford, Mass.) who both added 11 points.

The Hawks return to action Tuesday night when they host Wheelock in NECC action at 7:00pm.