WELLS DROPS SEASON OPENER TO HARTWICK

(Oneonta, N.Y.)─ The Wells College women's basketball team opened up their inaugural season with a 67-31 loss to the Hartwick College Hawks on Monday evening in Oneonta.
 
Freshmen Ashley Roser (Taberg, N.Y./Camden) paced the Express with a game high ten points to go along with seven rebounds and three blocks in 31 minutes. Sophomore Rachel Mattraw (Chaumont, N.Y./Lyme Central) chipped in with seven points and two rebounds, while senior Ashley Mercure (Granville, N.Y./Hartford) added five points for the Express.
 
The Hawks spread the ball around well as all 12 players reached the scoring column. Katrina Caulfield notched team highs in points (9) and rebounds (9) to go along with two assist. Kait Veit added nine points, Lee Adruini chipped in with eight points, while Kate Purcell and Laneka Brown each finished with seven points to lead the Hawks.
 
The Express shot 36. 1 percent from the floor and hit on three of five shots from behind the arc, while the Hawks finished 38.1 percent from the field and finished at 30 percent from behind the arc after finishing the first half at 46.2 percent from three-point range.
 
The Hawks jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead after the first four minutes of the first half and would lead by as many as 22 before heading into the break up 38-18.
 
Hartwick did not let up in the second half, opening with a 16-0 run as the lead ballooned to 54-18. Despite the large lead by the Hawks, the Express continued to battle as both squads played to a 13-13 stalemate over the final 13 minutes as the game ended 67-31.
 
The Express return to action on Nov. 20, when it travels to Morristown, N.J to take on the College of St. Elizabeth at 1 p.m.