ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University women's basketball team dropped its Empire 8 contest against Hartwick College, 71-60, on Saturday.
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The Saxons (11-13, 5-10 Empire 8) were down 14-3 against the Hawks (7-18, 4-12 Empire 8) in the first quarter. AU rebounded by outscoring Hartwick College, 24-16, in the second. Unfortunately, the Hawks responded with a 23-18 advantage. Despite both teams being tied in points at 18 in the fourth, it was not enough for the Saxons to overcome the advantage built by Hartwick College.
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Prior to the game, AU honored graduating senior Natalee Collins (Waterville, NY/Waterville) in a pregame ceremony. The senior finished with a career-high 21 rebounds to go with six points and an assist.
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Jaidyn Chest (Mayfield, NY/Mayfield) led the way with 25 points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal. Jayda L. Felker (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post) registered 14 points, three steals, two rebounds, an assist and a block.
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AU trailed by a double-digit score of 23-8 at the 6:23 mark of the second quarter. Felker scored on the layup that ignited a 19-8 run that cut the Hawks' advantage to three going into halftime, 30-27.
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Collins registered a layup and two free throws to get the Saxons within one at the start of the third, 32-31. Chest followed with two points from the charity stripe to give AU its first lead of the game, 33-32. Hartwick College erased the Saxons' one-point lead with six unanswered points. A 3-point shot by Chest and a layup by Felker kept the score within two. However, the Hawks went on a 13-4 run to go up by 11 at the end of the third, 53-42.
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Chest led a final Saxon charge, scoring 10 in the fourth. AU got within six with 5:08 to go in the game on two free throws by Felker. However, Hartwick College pulled away by outscoring the home team, 14-10, including 9-of-11 at the charity stripe.
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"While we're extremely disappointed with how we played today, it should be all about Natalee [Collins] and how much she's brought to this program," Head Coach Mike Moskowitz said. "She showed up every single day ready to work and with tremendous care for her teammates. She's got the biggest heart and has made an impact on all of us that will stick with us for many years."
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The Saxons play their final regular season home game against Houghton University on Tuesday at 5:30 PM.