HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Medaille College women's basketball team lost in their conference matchup against the Hilbert Hawks today. The Mavericks lost 61-45.

The Hawks started off strong right away winning the tip-off. They managed to get ahead and stay ahead throughout the first quarter. Erin Hardick (Buffalo, NY, Sacred Heart) was a work horse going in for some difficult layups to help with the deficit. After a timeout with 3:30 left in the quarter, the Hawks were playing great defense and finishing with three-pointers. The lead started to get away from the Mavs, and they would finish the quarter down, 23-12.

At the beginning of the second quarter, the Hawks' defense was still playing strong. It looked like it could be a turnover, but with a quick pass to the top of the arc from Hardick, Desmonique Veal (Buffalo, NY, City Honors) started it off with a big made-jumper. The Hawks' sharp-shooters were still a big factor. They kept increasing their lead. Treanna Blenman (Brooklyn, NY, Greece Odyssey) started off a small streak with a three and then a made layup on a fast break. Janell Steed (Buffalo, NY, Sacred Heart Academy) made another layup on a fast break, giving the Mavs three scores in a row. They forced a Hawks timeout, and got within eight points. It started to slip with some messy turnovers inside the arc. The Hawks remained dominant throughout the second quarter. The Mavs trail going into halftime, 41-24.

The Mavs were slow to get started in the second half. The Hawks continued to shoot very well and play good defense. Hardick continued to work hard in the paint. Steed made a three-pointer to finish out the third quarter, and the Mavs continued to trail, 51-39.

Going into the final quarter, the Mavs had some late momentum. However, they were still giving up the threes from the Hawks, pushing them further away from a comeback. The Mavericks still weren't giving up. It was too steep of a deficit, and the Mavs fell. 61-45.

Game leaders for the Mavericks were Hardick with 13 points going 5-14 with seven rebounds, six assists, and one steal, Veal with eight points going 4-11 with seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal, and Blenman with seven points going 3-7 with one rebound.

The Mavs will look to improve their conference record in their next game. They will travel to Pitt-Greensburg on Saturday, January 8 for a start time of 2:00 p.m.