HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Hilbert College women's basketball team started their 2015-16 season off on the right foot this afternoon after the Hawks sprinted to a 78-57 home opening victory over Geneva College in a non-conference match.

Hilbert's Shannon Rogers and Katelyn Proy dominated on the glass as they combined for 36 of the Hawks' 49 rebounds.  Rogers led all scorers with 22 points and 19 rebounds in the start of her sophomore campaign while Proy added 15 points and 17 boards in her first collegiate game of her bright career.

The tandem sophomore guard unit of Samantha Heiler and Kelsi Ebert played well within the team's system and chipped in 12 points and 9 total assists.  When the guards weren't looking for Rogers and Proy, they had another consistent player in the paint to feed who delivered.  Sophomore Lindsay O'Neill was a 50% shooter from the floor and added 10 points.

Today's victory marked the first season-opening win for the women's basketball team dating back to the 2004-05 season.

Hilbert jumped out early in the game and built an 8-point lead off an O'Neill layup with 2:17 remaining in the first quarter.  Rogers lifted Hilbert to a 21-12 advantage before the Golden Tornadoes responded with a 3-point basket with 6-seconds left before the first period ended.

Rogers gave the Hawks their first 10-point lead at 7:40 but the visitors chipped away from long distance and took their first lead in the half (31-29) off a long-ball at 2:10.

Geneva went 8-20 from behind the arc while Hilbert dominated the paint (22-10) in the first 20 minutes.

Hilbert went back to their bread and butter the second half and controlled the tempo forcing Geneva into 12.5% 3rd Q and a dismal 4th Q 5.88%  FG shooting.  The Hawks held an 18-2 advantage in scoring in the paint with a 48% shooting percentage.

Samantha Heiler lifted the Hawks big-time in the second half hitting both 3-point shots she took off step back, pick and rolls and short jumpers.   The Hawks found their way back to another 10-point lead at 3:44 of the 3rd quarter and stretched it to 11 after Proy scored a traditional 3-point play at 8:52 in final period.

Heiler, Emily Speidel and Jennifer Colvin closed the game hitting five of six free throw attempts to pull out the 20-point win.

Hilbert plays their first road game this week when they travel to Houghton College with the men's team on November 17th.