Score: Hilbert College 77 -- Elmira College 65
Records: Hilbert (1-0), Elmira (0-1)
Location: Hafner Recreation Center Gymnasium - Hamburg, N.Y.  

HAMBURG, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's basketball team dropped its 2016-17 season opener to Hilbert College, 77-65, despite getting 26 points from star guard Danielle Cleary '18 in 40 minutes of action.
 
The Rochester, New York, native scored from all over the court, going 9-for-19 from the field and 3-for-7 from three-point land. Cleary was not the only Soaring Eagle to post double-digit points, as reigning Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Year Lindsey Heaton '19 scored 12, while Marissa Silverman '17 chipped in with 10.
 
Elmira's biggest downfall in the contest came on the defensive end. The Soaring Eagles allowed the Hawks to shoot 56.9 percent from the field for the game and 60.7 percent for the second half. This is compared to Elmira's 35.8 field goal percent for the game.
 
The two programs started play pretty evenly throughout the first quarter, but the Hawks started to pull away in the middle of the first. Hilbert crawled out to an early 21-12 lead. Elmira would not lose their fight, going on a 6-0 run to pull the deficit to 21-18 by the end of the first 10 minutes.
 
The Purple and Gold continued their improved play in the second quarter, tying the game up at 23-all after a Soaring Eagle three-point play.
 
The Hawks, however, started to pull away again late in the second, taking a 34-25 lead with about 2:30 left to play in the half. Nevertheless, the Soaring Eagles fought back and clawed their way to a 36-30 halftime deficit.
 
This improved play spilled into the third quarter, with EC out-scoring the Hawks 15-to-14 in the third frame, pulling the deficit to 50-45 after three.
 
Hilbert started to pull away in the fourth, when the Hawks would take their first double-digit lead with 6:50 left in the game, with Elmira trailing 62-50. Hilbert would not look back, hitting their late game free-throws to secure the 12 point victory.

Turning Point
The Purple and Gold seemed to be in the game throughout, always clawing their way back if the deficit had started to grow too big. Ultimately, the Hawks offensive attack proved to be too much and EC could not pull the game closer in the fourth quarter. Hilbert's lead grew to double-digits midway through the fourth and Elmira was unable to get back into the contest.
 
Inside the Box

• Cleary led all scorers with 26 points.
• The Hawks out-rebounded Elmira 36-to-25.
• Hilbert committed 28 turnovers, compared to EC's 19.
• The Purple and Gold shot 35.8 percent from the field for the game, while the Hawks shot 56.9 percent.
• Heaton finished the contest with a team-high three assists.
• Guard Emily Green '18 led EC in rebounds with five.
• The Hawks' forward Shannon Rogers posted a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

News and Notes

• Elmira drops its third straight season opener and is now 2-8 in its last 10 season openers.
• Cleary's 26 points are the most that she has scored since a December 2015 matchup against Clarkson University.
• Cleary's scoring output is also the most that any Soaring Eagle has posted in a season opener since Marcia Coakley '09 scored 27 in the 2006-07 season opener.
• Cleary's nine field goals are also tied for the second most she has made in one game.
• Silverman's 10 points are the third-most in her career.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will stay on the road to start their season when they travel to Greensboro, North Carolina, for the Guilford Classic. EC will challenge Bridgewater College on Friday, November 19th, at 12:00 p.m. and will face the host Guilford College Quakers on Saturday, November 20th, at 2:00 p.m.