Box Score PALATINE, Ill. – Even though the Harper women's team struggled on the offensive end in the first half, the Hawks played well defensively and trailed the No. 1 Madison College by only nine at halftime.
 
The Hawks (4-17, 0-6 N4C) had a tough time sustaining that energy in the second half, however, as the top-ranked WolfPack (20-1, 5-1 N4C) pulled away for a 69-34 win at the Wellness & Sports Center.
 
Harper had a tough time containing Madison post player Megan Petty (14 points, eight rebounds) in the first quarter, as she scored eight points in the quarter to help give her team a 14-2 edge. The Hawks' Sarah Nelson (Gurnee, Ill. /Warren Township ) scored on a fastbreak layup, the team's lone field goal of the quarter, to cut the WolfPack lead to 14-4 after one.
 
The Hawks turned things around in the second as they knocked down 7-of-13 shots and also forced six Madison turnovers. Tamara Zivak (/Barrington) and Ashonte Sims (Bloomington, Ill. /Normal Community West) both scored six points in the quarter. Lexi Zades (/Conant)' 3-pointer with 25 seconds left sliced the WolfPack lead down to 28-19 heading into the locker room.
 
Harper limited Madison's top scorer, Jenna Endres, to just five points in the first half, but Endres (game-high 18 points) caught fire early in the second half. She scored a pair of layups and knocked down three 3-pointers early in the third quarter to extend the WolfPack lead to 43-24. The visitors outscored the Hawks 19-7 in the third to lead 47-26.
 
The fourth quarter was a challenge for the Hawks as well, as Madison used its depth (12 players) to wear down its opponent. Madison's bench outscored Harper's 23-9 in the game.
 
Harper connected on 28 percent (14-of-50) of its shots in the game, and Madison shot 49.2 percent (31-of-63). The WolfPack held a 35-26 rebounding advantage. Zivak led the way for Harper with 10 points. Rachel Slaney (13 points) and Addison Hemming (10 points) also reached double figures for the WolfPack.
 
The Hawks will face another challenge on Saturday afternoon as they travel to Rock Valley College (16-6, 5-1 N4C) for a 4 PM game. Harper is look at avenge a loss to the Golden Eagles back on Jan. 6 in Palatine.