HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Hilbert College women's basketball team took an early lead and controlled the pace of the game as they raced to a 69-54 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference victory over Franciscan University today.   Kylie Reinholz led all scorers with 18 points pushing Hilbert's AMCC record to 2-9 and 3-14 over.  The Barons fell to 3-8 and 4-12 overall.

Helen Raines was Franciscan's leading scorer with 14 points while she dished for 5 assists.

Hilbert's Haley Oakes continued her strong shooting performance knocking down 3 of her 4 attempts at the 3-point line for 13 points, just two ahead of Natalie Whitman and Emily Speidel.  Whitman grabbed 15 rebounds which marked the eighth time she pulled in double-figure caroms this season.

The Hawks had their strongest shooting performance, hitting 50% of their shots in the first 20-minutes before they cooled to 31% in the second half.  Hilbert's aggressive defense pressure forced the Barons into rushed and off-balance or out of rhythm shots to finish with 26.9% percentage for the game.

Hilbert out-rebounded Franciscan by 14 but had few steals and more turnovers than the visitors.

Lacey Huck hit the first jumper of the game to give Franciscan their only lead of the game.  Amber Hay scored two of her nine points to tie the game before Hilbert went on a 17-6 run capped by Haley Oakes 3-pointer to go up 19-8 with 12:20 remaining.  Helen Raines cut the deficit to 3 points but the Hawks fought back and built a 10-point lead at the break mainly by hitting 71% from beyond the arc.

Both teams traded baskets for the first five minutes in the second period.  Back-to-back threes by Hilbert's Speidel and Oakes stretched their advantage back to double-digits which the Hawks held onto the rest of the game.  Hilbert owned the boards in the second half with a 33-22 edge.

Hilbert returns to action this week when they travel to North Buffalo for their rematch game at Medaille College.  The Hawks then prepare for their second-to-last home game of the season when they host Penn State Altoona February 1.