Before a Hartford women's basketball record crowd of 2,811, the University of Hartford Hawks defeated the Stony Brook University Seawolves, 50-47, to win their first ever America East title and advance to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history.
Stony Brook took a 15-11 lead with a 7-0 run with just under seven minutes remaining in the first half, as Hartford was held scoreless for five and a half minutes. But the Hawks respsonded with a 7-0 run of their own, to take an 18-15 lead with 4:24 left before halftime. The first half saw four ties and five lead changes, as neither team led by more than four point, and Hartford went into the break with a 21-20 lead.
The Hawks led, 34-33, with under eight minutes left when Hartford's Janeka Lopp was assessed a technical foul after a foul call on a Seawolf shot attempt. Stony Brook sank all four free throws to take a 37-34 lead. The Seawolves extended the run to 10-4 and led, 43-38, with 4:06 to play.
Hartford used a 9-4 run to tie the game at 47 with 55 seconds left on a Lopp three pointer from the right wing. On the next possession Stony Brook's Sherry Jordan was called for a traveling voilation, giving the ball back to the Hawks with 37 seconds left. Hartford took the lead for good on a layup by Kelly Ann Charles with 18 seconds left, and held on the for 50-47 victory.
Hartford was led by All-Tournament selections Dorcas Miller (game-high 16 points), Janeka Lopp (eight points, season-high seven rebouds), and Tournament Most Outstanding Player Kenitra Johnson (15 points, seven boards, two blocks). Stony Brook sophomore Sherry Jordan joined them on the All-Tournament team (12 points, six rebounds, game-high five assists). Also named to the All-Tournament team was Vermont sophomore Aaron Yantzi.
The Hawks gain Hartford's first ever, men or women, NCAA basketball tournament berth, and await their first round matchup, scheduled to be released tommorow at 5:00 p.m. on ESPN.