Hartwick Wins Blazer Tip-Off Tournament

HARTWICK DOWNS JOHNSON STATE, 72-53
IN BLAZER TIP-OFF TOURNAMENT TITLE GAME

Saturday, November 15
Game 1: Johnson State College defeats Elms College, 64-61  Box score
Game 2: Hartwick College defeats MCLA, 79-66  Box score

Sunday, November 16
Consolation Game: MCLA defeats Elms College, 54-48  Box score 
Championship Game: Hartwick defeats Johnson State, 72-53  Box score

CHICOPEE, MA, Nov. 22, 2008 - Hartwick College junior guard Heather Pruchansky (Naples, FL) netted a game-high 20 points and was named Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) as the Hawks cruised to a 72-53 women's basketball win over Johnson State College in the championship game of the 2008 Blazer Tip-Off Tournament hosted by Elms College.

Pruchansky was lights-out from 3-point range, as she was 6 of 7 from beyond the arc for Hartwick, which evened its record at 2-2 overall.

Senior guard Katie Caddell (Amsterdam, NY) added 11 points and was also named to the All-Tournament Team for Hartwick.

Senior guards Jenna Lewis (Middlebury, VT) and Casey Rusin (Wilmington, VT) were both named to the All-Tournament for Johnson State (2-1). Lewis finished with 11 points and a game-high seven assists, while Rusin added nine points.

The Hawks held a slim 31-28 lead at intermission before erupting with a 25-8 run over the first 10 minutes of the second half to put the game out of reach.

Hartwick used its size advantage and depth, as it held big advantages in both rebounding (45-31) and bench scoring (40-11).

Junior center Claudia Martineau (Washington, VT) finished with 12 points and six rebounds for Johnson State, which was limited to just 37.0-percent shooting in the loss.

CONSOLATION GAME
MCLA 54, ELMS COLLEGE 48

Sophomore guard Hillary Perks (Saugerties, NY), who was named to the All-Tournament Team, dropped in a game-high 17 points, including solid 8 of 10 shooting from the free throw line to pace the Trailblazers (2-1).

The Blazers trailed 20-15 at halftime, but battled back with an 18-12 run over the first 10:35 to take a 33-32 lead following a jumper by freshman guard Misty Kology (Ludlow, MA).

From there, however, MCLA responded with a 15-4 run over the next 5:26 to grab the lead for good at 47-37.

MCLA sophomore guard Molly Broda (Southampton, MA) finished with 10 points as the only other player to reach double figures for either team.

Senior forward Paige Schneider (Windsor, CT) tallied eight points and junior forward Amanda Brogna (Oxford, MA) added six points and hauled in a game-high 13 rebounds.

Brogna, who registered 19 points and 14 rebounds in the Blazers' first round loss to Johnson State on Friday night, was named as Elms College's All-Tournament Team selection.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Hillary Perks (MCLA), Amanda Brogna (Elms College), Casey Rusin (Johnson State), Jenna Lewis (Johnson State),
Katie Caddell (Hartwick)

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Heather Pruchansky (Hartwick)