HIRAM, Ohio – November 12, 2024 – A spirited effort from the Hiram women's basketball team fell just short on Tuesday evening at Price Gymnasium, as
Brooke Hickman posted a whopping 29 points in an 84-79 loss to Geneva.
For Hickman, the 29-point outburst marked the second-most points in her collegiate career, trailing only a 30-point performance last season against Franciscan.
Anastasia Lawler tallied 12 points, seven assists and four rebounds, while
Jo Janda spearheaded the bench unit with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists.
After trailing 47-39 at the intermission, the Terriers went on an impressive run throughout the second half. It started midway through the third quarter, when Lawler executed a three-point play and Janda made a driving layup to make it a 59-46 game.
Minutes later, the team finished the quarter on a 10-1 run behind four points from Lawler, a tip-in layup from
Maya Joiner and a pair of layups by Janda and Hickman. Through three quarters, it was just a six-point deficit (62-56).
That positive momentum carried over to the start of the fourth quarter, with the duo of Hickman and Janda again combining for four consecutive points on high-percentage looks in the painted area.
Sarah Seaman made a three-pointer with 8:34 remaining and Hickman made a layup with 6:48 left to give Hiram a 65-64 lead, its first advantage since the closing moments of the first quarter.
Hiram had officially fought its way all the way back after facing a deficit as large as 18 points in the third quarter.
The teams continued to trade baskets throughout the quarter, with Hickman nearing the 30-point mark thanks to a layup to even the score at 77-77 with 2:31 left in regulation. Geneva then found its form, scoring seven of the last nine points in the game to hold on for the victory.
Despite the loss, it was a game between future PAC opponents that had a little bit of everything for the collegiate basketball fan. While Hiram is locked in to its 2024-25 schedule in the NCAC, the team put on a remarkable display against a team that was one win short of winning the PAC Tournament title in 2023-24.
Hiram will return to the hardwood on Saturday, when it travels to Alfred, NY for the Alfred Classic, a two-day event featuring four different teams. The event begins with a matchup against the hosts, Alfred University, at 7 p.m. inside Terry S. Galanis Family Arena.
