The first half saw both teams take the lead for significant stretches of time. Utica led the opening 10 minutes, building their lead to five (6-11) with 12:33 to play in the half. The Hawks took their first lead of the game under two minutes later (10:12) when Tichy made a lay-up off of a Lindsay Wilson (Oneida, N.Y.) feed to go up 14-13 and led by five with under five minutes to play. The Pioneers fought back and tied the game at 31-31 when Ava Thomas converted a pair of free-throws and the score would remain knotted going into the break.
Thomas hit the opening basket of the second half for Utica and it was all Hartwick for the next 15 minutes. The Hawks led by as many as 15 with 7:33 to play on a Sam Galm lay-up. Utica started mounting a charge and cut the lead to five with 2:32 courtesy of a Laura Keating basket. Missed free-throws down the stretch for the Hawks allowed the Pioneers to cut the lead to three (67-64), but Tichy sunk two shots from the stripe with 10 seconds to play in regulation to end Utica’s 10-0 run and to seal the win for Hartwick.
Wilson led all scorers with 22 points and added eight assists in the win. Aside from Knights 19 points and 10 rebounds, she also recorded four blocked shots, an assist, and a steal. Tichy added two assists and two steals to go with her 17 and 13.
Thomas led Utica with 17 points, a game-high 15 rebounds, two assists, and two blocked shots. Keating finished with 14 points and Dana Danziger rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points and added four assists.
The Hawks will return to action on Friday night when the host Elmira College in Empire 8 action at 6:00 p.m. at Binder Gymnasium.