MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Maddie Clark '22 matched her career-high with 22 points to help the Wesleyan women's basketball team lead wire-to-wire in a 72-56 win over Hartford Friday night in the first game of the Courtyard by Marriott Classic.

Clark did most of her damage behind the three-point line as she went 5-for-8 from distance while going 8-for-14 from the floor with five assists and four rebounds in 30 minutes. The Cardinals will play Russell Sage Colleges in the final game of the home tournament on Saturday at 2:30 PM. Sage defeated Albertus Magnus 81-72 in the nightcap from Silloway Gymnasium. The Hawks were led by Maggie Kirby who pumped in 18 points as they fall to 3-2 on the year. Hartwick closes out the tournament at 12:30 PM tomorrow against the Falcons.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS:

• Wesleyan completely dominated the opening few minutes, outscoring the Hawks 13-2 more than five minutes into play as five different Cardinals scored in the opening run
• The Cardinals continued to pour it on in the first quarter, as Alana Jones '24 hit a pull-up jumper and Maggie Lee '23 knocked down a three to give Wesleyan their biggest lead at 26-7
• The two sides traded baskets up until the midway point where Clark hit a three then Madison Szabo '23 followed with a baseline jumper and after Marina Petruzzi '22 hit on a jumper from the paint, Clark connected again from deep as Wesleyan led 45-16
• That 29-point lead for Wesleyan was their largest of the game

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS:

• Hartwick fought hard in the second half, cutting Wesleyan's lead down to 20 just 1:33 into the third quarter but Clark was there again with an answer, connecting off a Caleigh Ryan '22 feed from the wing to stymie the Hawks' run
• Clark finished off a three-point play with 3:46 remaining in the quarter but the Cardinals had an extended scoring drought over the remaining minutes of the stanza, allowing Hartwick to cut the margin down to 61-40 heading into the fourth quarter
• In the final frame, Wesleyan's offense continued to struggle and Hartwick saw an opening, cutting the margin to just 14 with just under five minutes left
• But the Wesleyan defense made the plays they needed to make in the closing minutes, allowing for a 72-56 win at the final horn

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Petruzzi reached double figures, scoring 14 points for the second straight game as she went 6-for-13 from the floor with four rebounds in 29 minutes
• Ryan struggled from the floor, going 3-for-11 but she continued to play with high energy throughout, finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds for her second straight double-double to go along with five assists and three steals in 36 minutes
• Lee was saddled with foul trouble but still managed to score nine for Wesleyan
• Emma Kiernan '24 posted a game and career-high 12 rebounds