University of New Hampshire Athletics
University of New Hampshire
16-10, 8-6AE
University of Hartford
13-14, 7-6AE
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 22 | 28 | 50 |
| New Hampshire | 25 | 30 | 55 |
Women's Basketball Completes Season Sweep Over Hartford, 55-50
2/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
DURHAM, N.H. -- Freshman center Carlie Pogue (Cincinnati, Ohio) notched a team-high 15 points off the bench to power the University of New Hampshire women's basketball team to Wednesday's 55-50 win over the University of Hartford at Lundholm Gymnasium for Real 'Cats Wear Pink.
The Wildcats complete the season-sweep over the Hawks for the second consecutive year to improve their overall record to 16-10 and 8-6 in America East. Hartford drops its third-straight league decision, slipping to 13-14, 7-6.
The rookie netted 6 of 9 attempts from the floor and 3 of 5 from the free throw line. Pogue also ripped down six rebounds. Junior guard Elizabeth Belanger (Acton, Mass.) posted 14 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Belanger dialed up 13 shots from the floor and knocked down six while going 2-for-4 from the free throw line. Senior guard Ariel Gaston (Toledo, Ohio) rounded out the double-digit scorers for the 'Cats with 12 points, hitting 5 of 9 from the floor and making both of her free throws. Sophomore guard Kristen Anderson (Greene, Maine) orchestrated the offense with six assists.
Sophomore guard Deanna Mayza led Hartford with a game-high 19 points, logging 8 of 12 shots and a pair of free throws. Freshman forward Darby Lee pitched in 13 points coming off the bench. Sophomore guard Morgan Lumb paced the Hawks on the boards with seven while pitching in five points.
The Wildcats connected on 46.8 percent of their shots, draining 22 of 47. Hartford was stymied to 19 of 50 (38.0 percent) attempts from the floor and 3 of 14 (21.4 percent) behind the 3-point line. UNH controlled the battle in the paint, outscoring (38-24) and outrebounding the opposition (32-30).
UNH and Hartford opened the game in a defensive stalemate as the teams shot a combined 3 of 10 from the field at the first media timeout. The Wildcats finally began to create separation as Gaston intercepted a pass and converted the fastbreak layup. Following a Cherelle Moore layup by Hartford, Pogue knocked down a jumper in the paint to give New Hampshire an 8-4 lead with 11:27 left in the first half.
Senior guard Amber Bepko netted a triple, followed with a Janelle Harrison layup to lift the Hawks to a 9-8 edge midway through the first half. However, New Hampshire swiftly tied the match at the nine- and 11-marks with scores from Belanger, Gaston and Pogue. UNH recaptured the lead with back-to-back layups from Pogue to lead 15-11 with 7:51 left in the first half.
Hartford momentarily regained the lead as Lumb engineered a five-point swing, but UNH continued to dictate its presence in the paint. The Wildcats registered field goals in the key from Sarah-Marie Frankenberger (Gross Gerau, Germany), Belanger and Pogue to lead 22-16 with 2:24 left in the opening frame.
The Hawks aimed to wrestle the lead away from the Wildcats before halftime with a six-point scoring flurry. However, a free throw from Belanger and a jumper from Frankenberger ensured the Wildcats the lead into the locker room with a 25-22 edge.
New Hampshire started the second half by recording the first six points as a Gaston layup was sandwiched by a pair of Belanger field goals. The Hawks narrowed the lead down to five as Mayza knocked down back-to-back layups, but UNH pulled away again. Freshman Aliza Simpson (Londonderry, N.H.) and Anderson poured in baskets to give the home team a 35-29 lead with 12:16 left in regulation.
UNH muscled its way to a 10-point lead as Gaston and Pogue strung together multiple scores and preserved its double-digit lead with 8:55 remaining in the second half.
Hartford narrowed New Hampshire's lead down to six as Lee and Mayza provided the offense for the Hawks. However, the Wildcats rebuilt its double-digit advantage with layups from senior forward Kaylee Kilpatrick (Saint John, New Brunswick) and Belanger. Kilpatrick found the net again, scoring the second-chance bucket to give the Wildcats a 50-38 lead with 3:41 showing on the clock.
The two sides exchanged scores as UNH still held its 12-point edge at 54-42 with 51 seconds left on the clock. Hartford did not fade away quietly in the last minute of play as it tried to extend the game into overtime. Free throws from Moore and Bepko brought New Hampshire's lead down to eight. Anderson netted a free throw to increase the 'Cats lead to nine, but Mayza strung together back-to-back layups inside to 10-second mark. Despite her efforts, the Wildcats were able to run down the clock and clinch the win on their home court.
New Hampshire travels to the University of Massachusetts Lowell (Feb. 21; 2 p.m.), before closing out the regular season at home March 1 (2 p.m.) against the University of Maine for Senior Day. The game against the Black Bears will be aired on ESPN3. For tickets, visit UNHWildcats.com/tickets or call (603) 862-4000.
Check out UNHWildcats.com or follow the Wildcats via social media on Facebook (www.facebook.com/UNHWildcats), Twitter (@UNHWildcats), YouTube (www.youtube.com/UNHAthletics) and Instagram (@UNHWildcats) for the latest news and information on all 20 varsity sports. For additional information on the UNH women's basketball team, follow the 'Cats on Twitter (@UNHHoops) and Instagram (@unhwbb).
