Box Score PALATINE, IL-  In the first game of the new year, the Hawks hosted the Wilbur Wright Rams in the conference opener at Robert Morris University, the 2018 home of Harper Hawks basketball.  The Hawks used a big second half to earn the 71-53 victory.

After winning the opening tip, Angelina Villasin got the scoring started for the Hawks with a jumper.  Wright would answer back quickly with a jumper of their own and a free throw gave them a one point lead.  However, the Hawks would go on a 6-0 thanks to a Villasin layup, an Abbey Sloan free throw, and a Maggie O'Donnell three pointer.  After building the 8-3 lead, the Rams went on a 9-4 run and the Hawks found themselves trailing at the end of the first quarter 13-12.  Villasin once again scored the first two points of the quarter and Kaela Drum added on a jumper of her own to give the Hawks a 3-point lead three minutes into the second.  The Hawks would extend that lead up to 8 points after O'Donnell and Sloan hit jumpers heading into the half with a 32-24 lead.

Villasin would open the half scoring the first 8 points and extend the Hawks' lead to 16.  Drum and Villasin would score 20 of the team's 22 points in the quarter to give Harper a 23 point lead heading into the last quarter of play.  The start of the fourth quarter was the Sloan and O'Donnell show as they scored the Hawks' first 11 points.  Sydney Heinrich added on two jumpers of her own, including a long two where her toe just barely grazed the three-point line.  The full team effort gave the Hawks a 71-53 victory to open N4C play.

All five starters posted double-digit points for the Hawks and Angelina Villasin led the team with 27.  Abbey Sloan led the way with 7 rebounds and 3 assists.

The Hawks (4-11, 1-0 N4C) travel to Rockford on Saturday to take on the defending National Champion Rock Valley Golden Eagles.  Tip-off is scheduled for 1pm.