BUFFALO, N.Y. – With four Hilbert players reaching double-digit scoring, led by Amber Hay's 18 points, the Hilbert College women's basketball team battled within inches of claiming a road win at D'Youville College January 9.

But two made free throws with 8.7 seconds left in regulation gave the Spartans a 72-70 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference victory over the visiting Hawks (1-9, 0-4 AMCC). D'Youville (6-6, 4-1 AMCC) breathed a sigh of relief when Jean-Ann Korona converted both shots and then held-on as a Hilbert desperation shot with 2-seconds left missed its target.

Natalie Whitman and Emily Spiedel each netted 14 points just two more than Jenah Labuski's contribution. The Hawks got other scoring from Haley Oakes (6), Kenya Williams (4) and Lauren Eggleston (2).

On the other side of the floor, D'Youville was led by Danette Laquerre's 14 points off the bench. Eight other Spartans chipped in offensively with a balanced score sheet.

Overall the hosts held a decisive edge at the charity stripe going 24 for 39 compared to Hilbert's 16 for 27. D'Youville out rebounded the Hawks by 7 yet Natalie Whitman was the only player on either team credited with more than 10 boards (12). Beyond those differences, the game stats are very similar across the board.

D'Youville took a 7-point lead the locker room (41-34) which didn't faze the Hawks. They chipped away at the score and took their first lead of the second half, just six minutes in, when Hay hit a jumper (46-45). Both teams traded hoops, always with D'Youville creating more separation offensively before Hilbert battled back to force a tie.

It was a wild finish in the last minute of the game though. Laguerre sank one free throw to put D'Youville up by five (69-64) before Hay cut it to three, earning two points from the foul line. The Spartans then went 1 for 2 at the line (0:32). Whitman sank a jumper, the Hawks forced a turnover and Hay made the game-tying bucket to end the 8-2 run at the end of the game. Hilbert was called for a foul well away from the basket which sent Korona to the charity stripe to become the game's hero.

The women's basketball team returns to action this weekend when they host back-to-back games on Saturday (3pm vs. Mount Aloysius) and Sunday (4pm vs. La Roche).