HCC (16-2, 6-1 Maryland JuCo Conference) held Baltimore without a basket for 12 minutes, 29 seconds of the second half by attacking the basket offensively and aggravating the Red Devils with a 1-2-2 zone which trapped the ball. Baltimore obliged by racking up seven fouls in a 2:44 span to put the Hawks into the bonus early to turn the event into shadow boxing instead of a basketball game.
"They really responded," said Palmer, who received a ball and a plaque at halftime of the men's game in honor of her 400th career coaching victory. "We ended up with our highest point total of the season and we played our best half of the year."
Baltimore's Lauren Owens hit a 3-pointer with 17:21 remaining to pull the Red Devils within 46-41. From there, HCC opened the throttle.
Baltimore's foul party allowed HCC to take a 57-41 lead with minimal offense. In the long run, it went after the basket to close off a 26-3 run.
Maggie Robinson ran the break and Melissa Blevins cashed in the chances for a team-high 19 points to go with six assists and five steals. Robinson finished with 16 points.
It made up for HCC's lackluster play in the first half, when it took a 20-9 lead and then stood back as Baltimore came back to within six at the half.
"We were disappointed in the first half," Palmer said. "We got up 20-9 running the ball and then must have got tired," Palmer said. "Baltimore needed a breather and we gave it to them. We talked about it at the half and went into attack mentality."
HCC 90, Baltimore 65
CCBC-BALTIMORE (65)
Skinner 4 0-0 4, Owens 9 2-4 25, Smith 0 2-2 2, Ferguson 1 0-0 2, Smart 1 4-6 7, Mumford 0 2-4 2, Moore 0 2-2 2, Whitehurst 3 0-0 6, Mullen 4 2-2 10. Totals 22 14-19 65.
HAGERSTOWN COMM. COLL. (90)
Gantt 1 3-3 5, Mason 2 2-2 6, Blevins 6 5-6 19, Pulieri 2 0-0 4, Taylor 3 2-3 8, Kline 0 1-2 1, Robinson 5 5-6 16, Whipp 1 0-0 2, Curley 6 2-6 16, Myers 0 1-2 1, Parson 0 3-4 3, Fowlkes 2 7-10 11. Totals 28 31-44 90.
Halftime-HCC 42, Baltimore 36. Three-point goals-Baltimore 6 (Owens 5, Smart), HCC 3 (Blevins 2, Robinson).
