Update from France: The Hawks First Taste of International Basketball

The Hawks took to the court for the first time playing on international soil on Friday against FC Lyon as they opened up play in the 2011 BEST (Basketball European Star Tournament) in Rodez, France. The Hawks are one of four teams, the only international team, in the traditional tournament style event. Below is a recap of their first game against FC Lyon, written by Cedric Quackenbush.

In their first game playing in Rodez, France, the Hartford women’s basketball team fell 70-55 to FC Lyon. The Hawks had three players score in double figures as Hartford shot 31% from the field. Freshman Amber Bepko paced the Hawks scoring with 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-8 from three point territory, off the bench. Junior Alex Hall just missed a double-double scoring 12 points to go with a team high nine rebounds. Fellow classmate Ruthanne Doherty added 11 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Doherty scored the first two points for the Hawks on a turnaround jumper in the post, helping her team jump out to a 12-9 lead. From that point, FC Lyon took control scoring the next 13 points to end the quarter with a 22-12 advantage. The Hawks trailed at the halftime break 45-25.

A pair of three pointers from Bepko along with back to back jumpers from sophomore Alyssa Englert and freshman Cherelle Moore pulled Hartford within a 56-40 deficit midway through the third quarter. However, FC Lyon quickly responded with five-straight points to finish the quarter and lead 61-40 going into the final period.

The Hawks would not go quietly as Moore opened the fourth quarter with an offensive rebound and put-pack that ignited a late surge. Back to back jumpers from senior Keyokah Mars-Garrick cut FC Lyons lead to 68-53 and Bepko added another bucket to bring the Hawks within thirteen with a minute left in the game. Overall, the Hawks held FC Lyon to just 25 second half points.

With two players out due to injury, Coach Rizzotti was able to give everyone valuable minutes including four freshmen. Bepko added five rebounds and two steals to go along with her team-high 14 points. Moore added four points and four rebounds while Shanise Bultron contributed six rebounds. Forward Shelby Fogarty chipped in four rebounds.

The Hawks return to the court on Saturday when they take on Tarbes Gespes Bigorre with game time scheduled for 2:30 p.m. (Eastern Time).