the Informer

Photo: Adam Manison

The University of Hartford women’s basketball team struggled early but pounced on the New Hampshire Wildcats in the second half on route to a 65-35 thrashing. It is the Hawks 13th consecutive win as they matched last season’s win total of 20 games.Hartford (20-3, 11-0 America East) had previously beaten the Wildcats 72-45 in January, but New Hampshire made it interesting early. Hawks guard Jenna Peterson made a three- pointer to put Hartford up 12-7 with 13:13 remaining in the first half before the Wildcats rattled off five straight points on a three pointer by Chrissy Hall and a jumper by center Jill McDonald.

Despite disrupting Hartford’s perimeter in the first half game behind their stingy 2-3, the Wildcats still had no answer for Hartford’s interior. Diana Delva carried Hartford into halftime with a double-double, scoring 10 points and 11 rebounds as Hartford led 26-20.

“We were trying to be aggressive,” Delva told the Hartford Courant after the game. “The first half we were really slow and not in the groove.”

Point guard Jackie Smith made sure the Hawks would pick it up in the second half as she drained a three-pointer that seemed to ignite the Hawks. While the Hawks continued light up the scoreboard, New Hampshire was held without a point for the first eight minutes in the half. Their first second-half field goal game with only 8:36 left.

Hartford’s guards took some pressure off of Delva in the half as Mary Silvia scored 10 of her 14 points in the period while Daphne Eliott and Ilicia Mathis combined for nine points off of the bench. Smith finished with five points and four assist while Delva led the way with 14 points and a season-high 15 rebounds as Hartford outscored the Wildcats 40-16 in the second half alone.

“We were out of the gates in the second half,” head coach Jen Rizzotti told the Courant, “we pushed the tempo and they were too tired to even make a shot for 12 minutes, and that’s the way we should be playing all the time.”

Hartford has beaten their previous three opponents (Stony Brook, UMBC and New Hampshire) by a combined 29 points per game. They have held their last seven opponents to 45 points in a game or fewer. They continue to lead the conference in opponent’s points per game (51) and opponent’s field-goal percentage (35).

The first place Hawks, having played Maine on Tuesday night, are off until playing Binghamton at home next Thursday in Chase Arena.

The Hawks previously beat Binghamton 70-65 in a come from behind victory on the road thanks to Mary Silvia’s 16 second half points.