BOSTON -- University of Hartford used a 15-point performance from the tournament's Most Outstanding Player Alex Hall to win the 2011 America East Women's Basketball Championship. The fourth-seeded Hawks, who earned the program's fifth title, defeated two-seed Boston University at the Terriers' Case Gymnasium, 65-53.
Hartford earned the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament and will find out its fate on ESPN's Selection Monday Special Show on March 14 from 7-8 p.m.
Hall scored 13 of her team-high 15 points in the second half, going 5-for-10 from the field. Three other Hawks joined her in double figures, including senior point guard Jackie Smith who finished with 14 points and five assists. Sophomore Ruthanne Doherty, who was also named to the all-tournament team with Hall, tallied a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Boston U. scored the first four points of the game before Smith hit a three for the Hawks' first points of the game. Hartford then went on a 7-2 run to take a 10-7 lead it wouldn't relinquish to the Terriers for the rest of the game.
Hartford sophomore guard Daphne Elliott scored seven points in the first half as the Hawks went into the locker room with a six-point cushion, 27-21. Elliott finished the game with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists to also earn a spot on the all-tournament team.
With 10:18 left in the game, Terrier senior Kat Briggs hit a three to tie up the game at 40-40. Hartford put together a 13-5 run which was started by Amanda Weaver's retaliatory trey to kill Boston U.'s momentum and prevent any Boston U. comeback
Terrier sophomore guard Mo Moran scored a game-high 22 points, including 14 in the second stanza. Moran and the Boston U. bench outscored the Hawk's bench, 28-11. The Terriers also outscored the Hawks in the paint, 30-18.
Boston U. sophomore guard Chantell Alford, the America East Player of the Year, and teammate junior guard Alex Young rounded out the all-tournament team with outstanding performances earlier in the championship.
Hartford becomes the first four seed to win the America East title and the lowest seed to win the tournament since UMBC won as the number seven seed in 2007. Head Coach Jen Rizzotti won her fifth title as coach, more than any other coach in America East history.