WILDCATS 69, HAWKS 66

DURHAM, NH — Time stood still in Lundholm Gymnasium Wednesday night. After blowing a 10-point lead in the final two minutes of action the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Wildcats (4-12, 1-4) looked poised for overtime with the Hartford Hawks (1-14, 1-3). Momentum surely wasn’t on the Wildcats’ side and an 11th straight loss felt ominously close. That was until junior Helena Delaruelle pulled up from 42 feet. The guard had already nailed four three-pointers and had 15 points to her name. But as the buzzer sounded the Frenchwoman called le jeu. Breath was collectively held for what felt like forever. The buzzer beater sent the UNH bench into pandemonium. Delaruelle was dogpiled by Wildcats as Hartford looked on in disbelief.

Delaruelle’s 18-point night was a career best as were her five 3-pointers. The double-digit performance was only the junior’s second of the season and could potentially mark a turning point for the energetic and dynamic player who has too often failed to make a mark on the stat sheet.

Head coach Kelsey Hogan chalked up Delaruelle’s performance to her confidence and focus.

“It brings the energy in Lundholm,” said Hogan. “It brings the energy on the bench. She’s just a really dynamic and energetic player. So, when she’s on it just brings everybody up.”

Delaruelle couldn’t keep the smile off her face when discussing the last second winner.

“It was my first buzzer beater,” she explained. “I was like ‘no way.’”

Senior Ivy Gogolin matched her teammate’s point total of 18 in an impressive performance off the bench. Much like Delaruelle, Gogolin has struggled to find consistent scoring, often coming alive for fierce bursts of baskets only to regress in the following minutes and games. Hogan has said previously this year that consistency is the biggest piece Gogolin needs to add to her game.

One Wildcat who is never lacking in her consistency is fifth-year guard Amanda Torres. The longest tenured ‘Cat on the roster finished the night with 16 points and four assists. Torres now sits at 1,007 career points. She is just the 22nd Wildcat to enter the 1,000-point club and could climb higher in the scoring ranks of Durham’s elite with plenty of games left this season.

“Really proud of Amanda Torres,” said Hogan postgame. “1,000 points is a huge accomplishment. Really proud of her.”

Torres was humble when discussing her historic night.

“It was super exciting, especially to do it with this group of girls,” said the grad student. “And to get the win means even more. I’m just super excited and thankful for the opportunity to be here and all the opportunities I’ve had.”

Her head coach sits at 12th all time with 1,181 points. Time will tell if Torres can catch Hogan in the remaining 13 games.

The ‘Cats are back in action Saturday afternoon on the road against UMass Lowell (5-7, 2-1) at 1 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Andrew Yourell