Roser Powers Women’s Basketball Past Hilbert

AURORA, N.Y. – Senior captain Ashley Roser (Taberg, N.Y.) scored a team-leading 35 points en route to a 79-75 victory over non-conference foe Hilbert College Monday evening at the Frances Tarlton Farenthold Athletic Wing. With the win, the Express even their overall record at 3-3 while the Hawks drop to 1-3 on the year.

Dating back to Jan. 16, 2013, Roser has racked up 20-straight double-digit rebound and point scoring tallies. This evening, Roser scored 35 total points and pulled down 12 rebounds to lead the Express in both categories. Junior Kaitlynne Knapp (Port Byron, N.Y.) scored 13 points in the victory while senior Theresa Hernandez (Dewitt, N.Y.) posted double-digit rebound totals for the third-straight game.

For Roser, her 35 point effort in this evening's game is the third-highest single game total of her career. Roser also set a single game high for points scored at home this evening and made 15 field goals in the tilt, a single-game program record, after shooting 15-for-22 from the floor.

Wells led from start to finish, scoring within the game's first four seconds following a Roser layup. The Express never allowed the Hawks to come within two points of taking the lead, eventually building a 12 point lead with a Roser jumper in the half's waning minutes. Wells took a 37-25 lead into halftime. In the first half alone, Roser had recorded 21 points and nine rebounds, falling one rebound shy of a double-double in the game's first 20 minutes.

The Express opened up a 15 point lead with 15:26 remaining in the second stanza, utilizing a Knapp layup to extend the Wells lead to 48-33. Wells later had a 15 point lead, a 66-51 spread, with 6:07 remaining in regulation time following an Anita Babb (Auburn, N.Y.) layup, but the guests rallied in a large way in the final five minutes of regulation time.

Hilbert put together a powerful rally, scoring 12 unanswered points in the game's next 2:05 to cut the deficit to 66-63 in favor of the host Express. A Courtney Coots "and-one" with 4:02 remaining in the period punctuated the Hilbert rally as she converted the three-point play for the Hawks. Wells, however, was able to stave off the Hawks rally and pocket the 79-75 win.

For the Hawks, Natalie Whitman scored 24 points and 11 rebounds to lead the team in both categories. Emily Spiedel ranked second for the visitors, scoring 16 points while pulling down six rebounds. Haley Oakes assisted six baskets for Hilbert while Speidel led the way with two takeaways.

Wells returns to action this Wednesday, Dec. 4 as they face-off against North Eastern Athletic Conference rival Keuka College on the road at 8:00 p.m. The Express return home this Saturday, Dec. 7 as they host the Fighting Tigers of SUNY Cobleskill at 3:00 p.m.