ALFRED, NY –A strong defensive effort by the Alfred University women's basketball team was just enough, as the Saxons defeated Hartwick by a 60-55 score in the Empire 8 home finale Saturday afternoon.

Alfred wins its second game in a row, improving to 7-17 overall and 3-10 in Empire 8 action. The Saxons snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Hawks (13-11, 7-6 Empire 8) stretching back to the 2015-16 season.

The Saxon faithful was out to celebrate senior day at Terry. S Galanis Family Arena.
 
Along with third-year graduate assistant coach, Rachel Durbin, seniors Jillian Murray (Eden, NY / Eden), Mandy Skeet (Pembroke, NY / Pembroke), Bri Hicks (Burlington, VT / Ithaca), Samantha Pierre-Louis (Wheatley Hills, NY / Half Hallow Hills West) and Jamie Wilcox (Forestville, NY / Pine Valley) were all honored for their time as Saxons prior to the game.
 
The Saxons came out looking to celebrate more than senior day and played a tight first quarter against the Hawks that saw them up 15-13 after the opening 10 minutes of play.
 
AU began to build on that lead throughout the second period and went on an 8-3 run to end the half and headed to the locker room leading 31-23.
 
The Hawks began to make it interesting in the third but it seemed as if Alfred had an answer for every bucket.
 
With the lead cut down to five late in the third, Gillian Flint (Caledonia, NY / Caledonia-Mumford) hit back-to-back three pointers to pad the Saxon lead and give them a 48-39 lead headed into the fourth.
 
The fourth quarter was when Hartwick made its run and cut the deficit to just one point at the 4:51 mark.
 
Again though, the Saxons had an answer and went on an 8-2 run in the final minutes to secure the 60-55 win.
 
"The energy today was contagious throughout and we left it all out on the floor for our graduating seniors," Head Coach Mike Moskowitz said. These are the types of games that we pride ourselves on – it certainly wasn't pretty but we were tough enough and did just enough to win."
 
Flint led the Alfred offense with 18 points on the day while Hicks finished with 17. Wilcox had a huge game with 13 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
 
The Saxons will look to end the season on a three-game win streak when they travel to Houghton College for a 4PM tip off next Saturday.