Hawks Narrowly Lose to Wright

Box Score
 

PALATINE, Ill. – Despite a 19-point, 21-rebound performance from sophomore center Monica Hinderer (Arlington Heights, Ill./The Willows Academy), the Harper College women's basketball team lost 41-38 to Wright on Saturday afternoon inside the Wellness & Sports Center.

Both the Hawks (3-19, 0-10 N4C) and Rams (5-17, 3-7 N4C) struggled from the field in the game. The Hawks shot just 21.4 percent (12-of-56) while the Rams shot 21.7 percent (15-of-69).

Monica Hinderer's 19-point, 21-rebound performance was not enough to give the Hawks a win against Wright. (Jim Cummins)

Harper held its largest lead of the game at 11-6 with 12:58 to play in the first half on an Ashley Packard (Wheeling, Ill./Buffalo Grove ) (eight points) jumper. The Hawks led throughout much of the first half, but the Rams tied it at 17-17 on a Magdalena Barron basket late in the half. Hawks point guard Rachel Payne (Wheeling, Ill./Schaumburg Christian Academy) scored with just over three seconds to play to give the Hawks a 19-17 lead at the break.

Hinderer and Mikayla Nagle (/Rolling Meadows) were unstoppable on the glass in the first half, racking up 12 and 10 rebounds, respectively.

Hinderer's basket to open up the second half gave the Hawks a four-point advantage, but the Rams flipped the script with a 11-3 run over the next 4 ½ minutes to take a 28-24 lead. The Hawks tied it at 32-32 on a Packard 3-pointer with 8:05 to play but never took the lead. Wright pushed the lead to 39-34 on a Bria Redmond (13 points) basket with 5:54 remaining.

Harper closed to within two on a pair of Hinderer free throws with 1:21 left, but the Hawks committed a costly turnover with 19 seconds remaining in the game. After Barron split a pair of free throws to give the Rams a three-point lead, Hinderer was fouled.

She missed the first free throw and the second one deliberately, but Harper retained possession and called timeout to set up a play. Rise' Henderson stole the inbounds pass and dribbled out the clock to preserve the win.

Hinderer's double-double was her 18^th in 22 games. Zaporia Smith led Wright with 14 points while center Latrice King scored six points and grabbed 19 rebounds.

The Hawks play their final home regular season game of the year against DuPage (14-11, 5-4 N4C) on Wednesday night. It will be Sophomore Night for Harper as the program will honor the three sophomores on the team.