Hawks Fall to Belhaven in Mississippi

Jackson, Mississippi – The Hawks fell to the Blazers of Belhaven 72-62 in the Collegiate Conference of the South Matchup, bringing the Hawks record to 1-7 and 1-1 in the conference and Belhaven to 6-3 and 3-0.

The Blazers jumped out early on the Hawks as they went on a 12-0 run in the first three minutes of the game which included two three pointers. Led by back-to-back three pointers from sophomore, Cassidy Campbell, the Hawks began a surge in scoring, going on a 13-1 run to tie the game at 13 with four minutes remaining in the first quarter. Huntingdon took their first lead of the day after a made layup from leading scorer Kinstin Davis with 2:32 left. (15-14) Belhaven answered with a layup and three pointer of their own to close out the quarter on a 5-3 run to leave the Hawks down 1 heading into the second quarter. (19-18) The second quarter started scoreless for the first minute until the Hawks regained the one-point lead. For the next four minutes the game remained within three points and had three lead changes until the Blazers took a four-point lead by a pair of made free-throws. (31-27) A made three point shot by Deshauna Foote with 38 seconds left brought the game within one at 34-33 as Briana McGruder, who had her first career double-double, ended the half with consecutive lay-ups that gave the Hawks the 37-34 lead at halftime.

To start the third quarter the Blazers made two threes in the first three minutes and for the day, Belhaven shot 40% from behind the arc. The Blazers again took the lead at 42-41 but could not hold on to it long as the Hawks made a free-throw and a layup to go back up two 44-42. The third quarter remained close, and the Hawks controlled the lead until the 49 second mark when Belhaven claimed the lead with made 4 free-throws and ended the quarter 52-49. Belhaven held the lead for the remainder of the game. For the game the Blazers converted 21 points off Huntingdon's 21 turnovers and the Hawks shot 50% from the free-throw line (13-26).

Stat Leaders for Huntingdon:

#4 Kinstin Davis – 14 Points, 3 Rebounds

#34 Deshauna Foote – 12 Points, 8 Rebounds

#35 Briana McGruder – 10 Points, 11 Rebounds

The Hawks return to action in Roland Arena on Friday, January 6^th as they take on another conference opponent, Piedmont at 3:00pm CST.