HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Hilbert College women's basketball team closed the 2021-22 season after dropping a 68-60 loss to No. 5 Alfred State in the First Round game of the 2022 AMCC Postseason Tournament.
The Hawks worked extremely hard on defensive pressuring the Pioneers into 16 turnovers, but Hilbert struggle to put the ball in the basket, finishing the game with more offensive rebounds than made shots.
THE BASICS
- Final Score: Alfred State 68 I Hilbert 60
- Location: Hafner Recreation Center, Hamburg, NY
- Records: Pioneers 11-13 I Hawks 8-18
HIGHLIGHTS
- Three Hilbert players notched double figure points, led by Ashley Schroeder who tossed in 18. She added three rebounds, three assists, two blocked shots and two steals.
- Macy Kisner garnered her 12th double double this winter padding 13 points with 13 rebounds while Kendyl Kerner grabbed 14 rebounds in the paint. Alesia Hamm reached for 12 points and earned six rebounds in the defeat.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Alfred State jumped out to an 8-3 lead less than four minutes into the quarter. Hilbert trimmed the margin to three points on their next trip down the court but hit a dry spell in scoring. A-State stretched their lead to 13 points (21-8) by the start of the second quarter.
- The Hawks made a hard run in the second session, out scoring the Pioneers 16-10.
- After Alfred State went up by 15 points, Hilbert went on an 11-2 run, fueled by Alesia Hamm's nine points, and cut the difference to four (25-21) with 2:12 left. The Pioneers closed the half with a 6-3 run taking a 31-24 half time lead.
- The Hawks again outscored Alfred State in the third period (19-18) but they weren't gaining ground on the scoreboard.
- Mackenzie Catan drilled eight quick points, hitting a short jumper before knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers which pulled Hilbert within one (39-38). Kerner kept things moving, scoring off an offensive rebound, pulling Hilbert back to a one-point game on the next trip. She finished the quarter with her second bucket which set the 49-43 score heading into the final quarter.
- Schroeder ripped the Pioneers for 13 of the Hawks 17 points in the final session. Kisner continued to clear of the offensive glass grabbing three and completed the team's four points for the game.
GAME NOTES
- Hilbert committed a season-low eight turnovers, attempted a season-high 81 field goals and earned another 29 offensive rebounds in the defeat. But, as the saying goes, they couldn't buy a bucket.
- The Hawks made 21-of-81 from the floor 4-of-20 beyond the arc and made only 14 of 25 free throw attempts.
- Hilbert held a 10-6 advantage in fast break points but were outscored 44-30 in the paint which is where most of Hilbert's missed shots were attempted.
- Kisner earned game-high honors with nine offensive rebounds, followed by Kerner's seven and Hamm's three.
UP NEXT
- Hilbert concluded their season at 8-18 but returned the AMCC postseason tournament for the fourth consecutive year. The 2021-22 Hawks played the full year with a short bench but always showed up to play each night, with each other and for each other. Three players average 35+ minutes a game and only eight times did someone have to leave the court for excessive fouls.
- Alfred State advances to the opening semifinal game Friday against No. 1 La Roche (6:00 pm) and Pitt-Greensburg advances to Friday's nightcap semifinal game against No. 2 Penn State Behrend (8:30 pm).
- The AMCC league champion will be crowned Saturday (3:00 pm) and will earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
