SCHENECTADY, NY -- Junior forward Devon Ciliberto (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz) scored a season high 15 points and sophomore center Rachel Ormsby (Charlton, NY/Burnt Hills) converted a layup with 11 seconds left in regulation to lift Union to a 55-53 triumph over Hartwick in a non-league women's basketball game Tuesday night at the Viniar Athletic Center.
Maria Tobin (Schenectady, NY/Bishop Maginn) scored 12 points off the bench, including eight in the second half, as Union (6-7) played at home for the first time since December 2. Ciliberto has scored 29 points in the last two games for the Dutchwomen, both victories.
Mara Tichy and Lindsay Wilson scored 15 points each for the Hawks (3-8), while Jenny Knight had a double double with 11 points and game highs of 10 rebounds and six blocks.
Hartwick had an eight point lead (42-34) with 13:22 left in the second half, but the Dutchwomen tied it with a 13-5 run in the next 7:33 to make it 47-47. Tobin had her eight second half points during that run. The Hawks led by four as Wilson made a layup with four minutes remaining to make it 51-47, but Ciliberto scored a basket and made two free throws to tied it at 51-51 with 2:12 left to play. After Katie Caddell made a jumper for a 53-51 Hawks lead with 1:52 remaining, Ciliberto tied it again 22 seconds later.
After the Ormsby layup made it 55-53 with 11 seconds left, the Hawks called a time out, with eight seconds left. Union fouled (only the fifth for the Dutchwomen in the half), and the Hawks called another time out with five seconds left. Ciliberto was called for a foul in the final seconds and the Hawks could not get a shot off before time expired.
Union had a 41-38 rebounding advantage. Krystal Hammond (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) led the Dutchwomen with nine rebounds, and Michelle Rogers (Clarence, NY/Clarence) added six boards off the bench. Union had a 17-9 point advantage off second chances, and outscored the Hawks' bench, 16-5.
The Dutchwomen have two more home games coming up this weekend, as they return to Liberty League play for the rest of the regular season. Union hosts hamilton Friday at 6 p.m. and William Smith Saturday at 2 p.m.
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