Utica, N.Y. – The SUNY Poly women's basketball team fell to the Hartwick College Hawks, 57–44, despite a strong second-half push that cut a large deficit down to single digits late in the game. The Wildcats are now 3-6 on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Hartwick jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter, opening the game with strong outside shooting and capitalizing on turnovers. Trinity Thornton knocked down an early three, and Emma Cohen followed with another from beyond the arc to help Hartwick build momentum. Macy Durkin fueled the Hawks in transition with steals and fastbreak points, while Meghan Paul added a three-pointer late in the quarter. SUNY Poly got baskets inside from Alivia Turk and Sanaa Lee, but Hartwick carried a 19–6 advantage after one.
The second quarter saw Hartwick extend its lead behind balanced scoring and continued pressure defense. Trinity Thornton scored in the paint, and Sophia DiCalogero added a jumper to push the lead to double digits. SUNY Poly found some rhythm late in the half, as Bryanna Lucas attacked the basket and converted free throws, and Isabella Kroll connected on a jumper. Despite that late push, a three by Paul in the final minute sent Hartwick into halftime with a 29–15 lead.
SUNY Poly came out aggressive in the third quarter, opening with baskets from Alysa Jackson and Turk to cut into the deficit. Turk added a fastbreak layup after a steal, and the Wildcats continued to chip away at the lead from the free-throw line. Hartwick answered with timely three-pointers from Cohen and Paul, then Leah Schoonover added a three to regain control. SUNY Poly closed the quarter strong at the line, but Hartwick still led 45–30 heading into the final period.
In the fourth quarter, SUNY Poly made its strongest push. Jackson opened the scoring with a three-pointer, and Lucas consistently attacked the paint, scoring multiple layups to bring the Wildcats within 10. Turk added a three-pointer with just under three minutes remaining to make it 54–44. However, Hartwick sealed the game at the free-throw line in the final minute, holding on for the 57–44 victory.
