University of New Hampshire Athletics
University of New Hampshire
17-12
University of Hartford
15-16
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 19 | 39 | 58 |
| New Hampshire | 15 | 27 | 42 |
Women's Basketball Eliminated From America East Championships, Falls to Hartford 58-42
3/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
VESTAL, N.Y. -- Junior guard Elizabeth Belanger (Acton, Mass.) posted a double-double effort of 15 points and 10 rebounds, but the fourth-seeded University of New Hampshire women's basketball team was eliminated from the America East Championships in Saturday's 58-42 quarterfinal loss by fifth-seeded University of Hartford at the Events Center.
New Hampshire's five-game win streak over Hartford is snapped as the squad finishes the season with a 17-12 overall record. The Hawks advance to the league semifinals to face top-seeded University of Maine on Sunday, March 8 (2 p.m.), improving to 15-16.
Belanger set a new career-high in free throws made with nine and registered her fifth double-double of her career. Senior guard/forward Sarah-Marie Frankenberger (Gross Gerau, Germany) notched 11 points coming off the bench, hitting 5 of 11 shots from the field. Classmate Ariel Gaston (Toledo, Ohio) set a new career-high in steals with six while tallying four points and six boards. Senior forward Kaylee Kilpatrick (Saint John, New Brunswick) started her last game as a Wildcat, but the captain played just 10 minutes due to an injury sustained in the first half.
Hartford had three players reach double figures in the scoring column. Senior guard Amber Bepko tallied a game-high 18 points while pulling down nine rebounds. She shot 5 of 12 from the field, including 4 of 8 from 3-point range and 4 of 7 from the charity stripe. Senior forward Cherelle Moore posted 15 points while sophomore guard Morgan Lumb added 10.
The Wildcats were hindered to 15 of 61 (24.6 percent) attempts, from the field. UNH was efficient from the free throw line, draining 11 of 12 (91.7 percent) shots. The Hawks connected on 19 of 53 (35.8 percent) attempts from the field, including 6 of 23 from 3-point range.
UNH's bench outscored Hartford by a 17-6 margin. The Hawks controlled the paint, outscoring (18-14) and outrebounding (48-36) the Wildcats.
Bepko started the scoring by knocking down a triple from the right corner. The Wildcats responded as sophomore guard Kristen Anderson (Greene, Maine) drained a jumper from just inside the 3-point arc. The two sides traded baskets as the score rose to 5-4 at the first media timeout.
Belanger gave the 'Cats their first lead of the game at 14:49, draining a jumper. However, Moore powered the Hawks with four consecutive scores to jolt ahead 12-6 with 11:36 remaining in the opening half.
Belanger was able to penetrate the paint and get to the rim for the layup to inch the 'Cats within four points. Despite the score, the New Hampshire offense was stifled for the next 7 minutes, 5 seconds. The Hawks capitalized on the scoring drought, increasing their advantage methodically to double digits at 19-8 with 2:40 left in the first stanza.
Frankenberger snapped the UNH scoring drought with three straight baskets to end the first half. The senior knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the arc to pull New Hampshire within single digits at 2:24. She added two more jumpers inside the two-minute mark as the 'Cats entered halftime trailing 19-15.
Belanger continued the scoring flurry for the Wildcats to start the second half with a pair of free throws made. UNH was able to keep it a one score game, narrowing the Hartford advantage to one at 24-23 with 16:08 left in regulation.
The Hawks did not relinquish their lead, turning to their 3-point shooting to propel ahead. Bepko ignited 12 straight points with back-to-back triples. Lumb added another trey, followed by a layup from Janelle Harrison. Sophomore guard Deanna Mayza capped off the surge with a free throw made as the Hawks opened up a 36-23 lead with 12:19 to go in the second half.
Freshman center Carlie Pogue (Cincinnati, Ohio) snapped the Hawks' 12-point run as she fought off a foul and registered a basket in the paint. The rookie completed the three-point play with a made free throw as the Wildcats trailed 36-26 approaching the midway point of the second half. Hartford engineered another lengthy run, reeling off 10 straight points that was backboned by triples from Mayza and Lumb to lead 46-26 with 7:33 left on the clock.
UNH managed to break the run with field goals from Anderson and Frankenberger, but New Hampshire faced a 49-30 deficit with 5:02 remaining in the match.
Belanger tried to start the comeback for the Wildcats as she made two trips to the free throw line, knocking down all four attempts to narrow the Hawks' lead down to 49-34. However, the Hawks rebuilt the 19-point lead as Mayza rattled in a jumper followed by free throws from Bepko.
The deficit proved to be too much to overcome despite baskets from Frankenberger, Gaston and Pogue in the last 1:18 to play as the Hawks advanced to the conference semifinals with the 58-42 decision.
The end of the 2014-15 season marked the end of UNH careers for seniors Madison Lopez (Albuquerque, N.M.), Frankenberger, Gaston and Kilpatrick. The Wildcat quartet propelled UNH to its second-ever postseason appearance in the program's 37-year history as well as trips to the conference semifinals in 2013 and 2014.
Log onto 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).
