HAMBURG, N.Y. – Hilbert College Women's Basketball started the game fast and held onto the lead for almost 25 minutes, but after getting outscored 35-17 in the second half, dropped a non-conference game to Buffalo State University tonight.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
 
Kayla Johnson led the Hawks through the first half, scoring 15 of her game-high 17 points before the break.  She connected on 5-of-11 field goal attempts (2-for-3 from downtown) and went 5-for-6 at the foul line.
 
Kelsey Schlagenhauf tossed in 12 points and was one rebound shy of a double double after garnering four offensive boards (9 total).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Kayla Johnson scored the Hawks' first 10 points of the opening quarter.  LaDasia Leak scored in the paint and Kelsey Schlagenhauf knocked in both from 15-feet out which put the Hawks up, 14-4.
• Johnson continued her run with five more quick points less than two minutes into the second session. But Hilbert's offensive production cooled over the final eight minutes with Mackenzie Catan (jumper) and Schlagenhauf (free throws) efforts maintaining the 23-17 lead by the break.
• Schlagenhauf stretched the lead to eight points (25-17) at the 9-minute mark but eight empty trips by the Hawks allowed the Bengals to knot the score three minutes later.  Kylie Morgan and Schlagenhauf forced two more tie score situations and Catan drilled her only 3-pointer off an inside out ball reversal which gave Hilbert a big lift before the start of the fourth quarter.
• Buffalo State blitzed the hosts for 10 unanswered points before Morgan scored in the paint off a Jessee Jonathan feed at 7:02.  Hilbert scored two buckets but committed six turnovers  over the course of their final 12 possessions. 

GAME NOTES 

• Kylie Morgan pulled down nine rebounds (4 points) and Mackenzie Catan was credited with three steals (5 points).
• Both teams were even in bench points, second chance points and times each team forced a tie score, but the Bengals edged Hilbert 9-0 in fastbreak points and 20-15 in points off turnovers.
• The Hawks forced Buffalo State into 21 turnovers yet limited their own offensive chances by committing 25 turnovers.
• Hilbert finished the game hitting 28.3% from the floor while Buffalo State finished at 39.3%.  The Hawks prevented the Bengals from connecting beyond the 3-point line (0-11).
• The foul line kept Hilbert in the game as the Hawks made 11 of 12 by the final horn.
• Buffalo State had three players reach double figure scoring led by Ashley Ticker who tossed in 18 points. 

UP NEXT
 
The Hawks (0-10, 0-2 AMCC) return to action this weekend when they travel with the men's team to Bradford, Pa.  The women will tip at 4:00 pm against Pitt-Bradford (1-5, 0-1 AMCC) inside the KOA Arena.