HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Hilbert College women's basketball team came ready for the challenge tonight. 

The Hawks battled the undefeated Fredonia Blue Devils in an 86-81 defeat tonight in the Hafner Recreation Center.

Kelsi Ebert led four Hilbert players in double digits and Shannon Rogers notched her second double-double of the season.

Fredonia's Jenna Einik posted 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead all scorers and she got help from Alexis Cheatham who added 22 points going 4 of 5 from beyond the arc.

Hilbert took an early 7-4 lead less than 3 minutes into the first quarter before Fredonia rallied and jumped ahead.  Both teams traded buckets till it was 13-13 but the visitors went on a mini-run to take a 24-17 lead by the horn.

Hilbert responded in the second period outscoring the Blue Devils 20-13 behind Taylor Corts' seven points.  Five different Hawks found the bottom of the net which evened the score at 37 a piece at half time.

Fredonia took a four-point lead to the start of the 4th quarter thanks to the four-made buckets Cheatom launched from long distance.

The Blue Devils extended their lead to 68-61 with just over 7-minutes to go.  Ebert started the 8-point run with her two-point bucket which was followed by back-to-back 3's from Samantha Heiler and Corts setting the 70-69 score with 5 minutes to go.

Before they knew it, the Hawks found themselves down by eight points 80-72 with over two minutes to go.  Hilbert missed only one field goal attempt the rest of the way, played smart with the ball (zero turnovers) and sank all four free throw attempts as well as their short jumper (Ebert) and long ball by Emily Speidel. 

Hilbert got 20 points off their bench, 30 points in the paint, 25 second-chance points and 17 points off  Fredonia turnovers, all better numbers than the visitors.

The Blue Devils shot 46.9% from the floor and went 20-27 from the charity stripe while the Hawks hit 36% of their shots, also went 20-27 from the foul line but won the battle of the boards with a 51-36 edge including 27 offensive rebounds.

Kelsi Ebert finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and three steals.  Taylor Corts, going 3-of-5 behind the line, tossed in 17 points with four offensive rebounds.  Emily Gawlak chipped in 13 points while Shannon Rogers hit double tens along with a game-high five assists and team-high four steals.  Katelyn Proy collected a pair of blocks and scored nine points pairing with six rebounds.

Hilbert (1-3) will take a few days off to celebrate Thanksgiving but will get right back on the court in time for their non-conference game at Alfred University.  The game time has been adjusted to 5pm to accommodate the Saxons staff as AU is hosting an NCAA Division III national second-roundl football game in the afternoon.