PALATINE, Ill. – The Harper College women's basketball team struggled to find its rhythm on Monday night against visiting South Suburban College. The Hawks shot just 24.2 percent from the floor and turned the ball over 21 times in a 70-39 to the Bulldogs.

South Suburban (10-11) took control from the opening tip and led 18-5 with 47 seconds left in the first period after a Jessica Majors layup. The Hawks (4-13) finished the frame strong as Ashonte Sims (Bloomington, Ill. /Normal Community West) scored a layup and Nastia Solsaa (Menomonie, Wis. /Menomonie ) buried a 3-pointer as the horn sounded to cut the deficit to 18-10.

The momentum was short-lived, though, as Harper was just 2-of-10 from the field and scored only four points in the second quarter. South Suburban shot 51.6 percent (16-of-31) in the first half and led 34-14.  The visiting Bulldogs outscored the Hawks 22-11 in the third quarter to build the lead up to 56-25.

Harper's Tamara Zivak (/Barrington) scored six of her 10 points in an evenly played fourth quarter (14-14). Lane Winkler (Arlington Heights, Ill./Rolling Meadows) buried her lone 3-pointer in the fourth. Point guard Kim Herzog (/Buffalo Grove) led the team with 12 points.

South Suburban got its biggest contributions from guards Tenaytia Sandford (14 points, seven assists) and Channie Thornton (14 points, four steals). Tyler Brown-Henderson scored 10 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and dished out six assists in 21 minutes off the bench. Shayla Joyner scored 10 points in nine minutes off the bench.

The Hawks will have some time to practice and rest up before they hit the court again on Saturday for their eighth consecutive home game. Harper hosts College of DuPage at 1 PM in the Wellness & Sports Center.