the Informer

3:34 pm

Hartford is headed to the America East Championship, defeating No. 1 UMBC 66-48. Handshakes at the center of the court. The Hawks play Boston U. on Saturday.

3:32 pm

The last few minutes have been a formality. Hartford is up 65-48.

3:26 pm

Rizzotti is headed to her seventh Conference championship in just under two minutes of game time.

3:22 pm

It’s 60-35 with under four minutes to play. The Hawks will be celebrating a win soon.

3:16 pm

Hawks lead by 25 with just over four minutes to go.

3:13 pm

The Hawks split the season series with Boston University, winning at home and losing away.

3:12 pm

The Hawks go up 55-34 with five and a half minutes to go.

3:10 pm

With a win today, the Hawks will appear in its seventh America East championship. They would travel to Boston University to play next Sunday.

3:08 pm

3:08 pm

The Hawks’ best finish as the fourth seed has been a loss in the semifinal. The Hawks could make it to a championship in just a matter of minutes now.

3:07 pm

Stern gets his last words in and walks off. Usually this can do wonders for a team, but it looks to be too little, too late for UMBC.

3:07 pm

Phil Stern was just ejected from the game following the second-assessed technical.

2:58 pm

Kristin Coles finally has a basket for UMBC, but the climb is going to be tough if Hartford’s defense remains this strong.

2:56 pm

Alex Hall has her eighth point of the night on her second 3-pointer. It’s 48-28 Hawks. Its their largest lead of the game with 9:48 to play.

2:53 pm

UMBC’s Head Coach Phil Stern buried his hands in his face, a sign of frustration at his team’s lack of production on offense.

2:51 pm

Hartford is just playing very tight defense–drawing fouls at every opportunity.

2:43 pm

Media timeout. Series note: UMBC won both games during the regular season. A game in January went into double overtime and UMBC pulled out the victory 67-60. In February, the Hawks lost at home, 53-48.

2:41 pm

Hawks up 41-24 on a Ruthanne Doherty 2-pointer.

2:41 pm

2:40 pm

Two consecutive three-pointers for the Hawks. Jackie Smith gets in on the game. Five points this half for her.

2:39 pm

Daphne Elliott is now 2-for-4 from 3-point land. Hawks maintain lead, 36-24 over the UMBC Retrievers.

2:34 pm

Obajolu is UMBC’s focus, she already has four second-half points.

2:34 pm

Tope Obajolu starts off scoring in the second half for UMBC. She was held scoreless in the first half. Jackie Smith also gets her first field goal of the half.

2:33 pm

The second half is just about to get under way. Hartford is up 31-18. Leading scorer for the Hawks is Nikkia Smith.

2:25 pm

Second half is eight minutes away.

2:17 pm

Hawks go into the halftime break with a lead of 31-18.

2:15 pm

Kurowski, who had a 26 points in the quarterfinal, has only four in the first half.

2:14 pm

Alex Hall just hit a 3-pointer after Silvia went after her own rebound on a free throw and recovered. An excellent play. It’s 31-14 Hawks with a minute to play.

2:11 pm

Nikkia Smith extends the lead to 13. Hartford’s never trailed.

2:09 pm

Four players are tied as leading scorers for the Hawks: Daphne Elliott, Nikkia Smith, Ilicia Mathis and Mary Silvia all with five.

2:09 pm

2:06 pm

Hawks up 25-14 late in the first half. Home court advantage is showing through. The student section braved the rain and explodes at every offensive miss for UMBC and every basket scored for Hartford.

2:04 pm

1:57 pm

Nikkia Smith is shaken up after drawing a UMBC foul, she’s out of the game for now.

1:56 pm

UMBC is over the limit. Nikkia Smith is at the line shooting two. Misses the first and makes the second. It’s 18-10 Hartford.

1:54 pm

Both teams have gone cold defensively. Jackie Smith called for a shooting foul.

1:52 pm

Eight early free throws account for Hartford’s lead. The Hawks haven’t missed a free throw. UMBC is in early foul trouble, the Retrievers’ next foul will put them in the penalty.

1:50 pm

Erin Brown and Meghan Colabella have just hit consecutive 3-pointers to make it a 17-8 game. Media timeout upcoming.

1:48 pm

The Hawks are up 11 early. UMBC chared with a travel. UMBC can’t get much scoring on the offense. Nikkia Smith adds to this building lead. The focus must be to get out in front early for Rizzotti’s team.

1:47 pm

UMBC charged with a bench technical foul. A chance to break out into an early wide margin.

1:45 pm

Hartford is out to an energetic lead in the first half, it’s 9-2 Hawks.

1:39 pm

Daphne Elliott has the lone 3-pointer to get scoring going.

1:37 pm

Hawks lead by three at the first media timeout.

1:37 pm

Welcome to live coverage of Hartford/UMBC. A quick note, posting will be a bit sporadic in the early stages as the author works on the game story of the Boston/Binghamton game.

1:36 pm