Late Push Gives Women's Basketball Victory Over Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CONN. – The Merrimack College women's basketball finished up non-conference play with a 58-51 victory over the University of Hartford on Thursday night. Kaylee Thomas led the Warriors with 19 points. She also grabbed six rebounds. Marissa Hamilton earned her first double-double of the season after scoring 12 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. The victory was Merrimack's sixth in a row.
 
The Essentials
Score: Merrimack 58, Hartford 51
Records: Merrimack (11-14, 7-5 NEC) | Hartford 2-24)
Location: Chase Family Arena
 
Rapid Recap

• A three from Thomas early on in the first quarter gave the Warriors an early five-point lead. Hawks would battle back to get it within two points. Thomas would knock down another three to send Merrimack back up five. A seven point run would give Hartford a two point lead. The Warriors would then rattle off four straight points all from Amaya Staton to retake the lead. The Hawks would take a three point lead into the second quarter. Merrimack would open the second quarter on a five point run to retake the lead by two. Both teams would go back and forth, tying the game at 21. Another five points would give the Warriors back the lead. With two and a half minutes to play until halftime Hartford would retake the lead by one. The Hawks would be up three heading into halftime.
• Merrimack would only allow four points in the entire third quarter of play. Jayme DeCesare would knock down her first three of the night with just under two minutes to play in the quarter, giving the Warriors a three point lead. Merrimack would be up three heading into the final quarter. A quick three by the Hawks would tie the game at 38. DeCesare would hit her second three of the night to go up three. With four and a half minutes left in the game Hartford would get the lead down to one. Hamilton hit a jumper to put the Warriors up by three. The Hawks would respond with a three to tie the game at 49. Hatford would score to take the lead by two. Staton would respond with two points of her own to tie the game at 51. Good free throw shooting down the stretch from Thomas, Hamilton, and Ava Owens would help Merrimack win the game.

Notes and Numbers

• Over the last nine games Thomas is averaging 15.7 points per game.
• The Warriors scored 22 points in the paint.
• DeCesare and Staton both finished the game with eight points.

Up Next
Merrimack comes home to take on Sacred Heart University on Saturday. Game time is set for 3 p.m.