WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Héléna Delaruelle (Enghien-leslBains, France) scored 14 points and notched 11 rebounds for her first career double-double, but the UNH women's basketball team was defeated 53-50 at the University of Hartford on Monday afternoon at Chase Family Arena.
Ivy Gogolin (Hopkinton, Mass.) added 11 points and six rebounds for the Wildcats, who slipped to 1-5 on the season and 1-2 in America East action, while the Hawks improved to 1-2, 1-2.
Hartford was led by Charlette Leurs with 19 points and 14 rebounds.
UNH and Hartford wrap up their two-game season series Tuesday, Dec. 29, with a 1 p.m. rematch (ESPN3) at Chase Family Arena. WATCH HERE.
Score: New Hampshire 50, Hartford 53 Records: UNH (1-5, 1-2 AE), Hartford (1-2, 1-2 AE) Location: West Hartford, Conn. (Chase Family Arena) Date: Monday, December 28, 2020 Box Score • Postgame Press Conference
Kali Grimm battles for position with Breyenne Bellerand
HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Quarter:
UNH went on an early 7-0 run to open a 15-10 lead at the end of the first.
Six different Wildcats scored, led by Paige Cote (Sanford, Maine), who was 2-for-3 for four points.
UNH went 7-for-18 (38.9 percent) and held Hartford to 3-for-13 (23.1 percent) from the floor.
Second Quarter:
Hartford, which trailed by as many as seven points (17-10) on a pair of Delaruelle free throws with 9:23 left, outscored the Wildcats 18-12 in the quarter to lead by one at halftime.
The Hawks took the lead, 28-27, on Marisa Lee's putback with :03 remaining.
It was Hartford's only lead of the first half.
Hartford went 7-for-12 (58.3 percent) compared to UNH's 3-for-14 shooting (21.4 percent).
Brooke Kane wrangles ball away from Jada Lucas
Third Quarter:
New Hampshire went on an 8-0 run to open the third quarter, with Gogolin's hook shot building the lead to 35-28 with 6:24 left.
After the Hawks climbed within 35-32 at the 5:19 mark, the 'Cats responded with seven straight points to increase the lead to 10 (42-32) for the only time on two free throws from Amanda Torres(Hudson, N.H.) at 2:51.
Hartford rallied to end the quarter on a 10-2 run, highlighted by Leurs' 3-pointer with four seconds left to trail 44-42.
Leurs scored nine of the 10 points for the Hawks during the spurt and 11 of their 14 points in the quarter.
UNH outscored Hartford, 17-14, with Delaruelle, Gogolin and Torres each scoring four points.
Fourth Quarter:
The game's first tie came at 44-all with 9:18 left.
The teams would be tied at 47-47 (7:17) and 50-50 (4:03).
The last field goal of the game came at 3:07 when Breyenne Bellerland's layup lifted Hartford in front, 52-50.
The teams combined to go 4-for-27 (14.8 percent) in a defensive struggle.
Helena Delaruelle and Breyenne Bellerand collide chasing loose ball
Wildcat Notebook
UNH won the points off turnovers battle, 12-8.
Points in the paint finished 24-24.
Hartford's bench outscored UNH's reserves, 32-8.
The Hawks never led by more than three points, the game's final margin.
