Photo - Austin Lindell

JAMESTOWN - Facing the top team in the region, the Jamestown Community College women's basketball team fell to Niagara County Community College Saturday afternoon, 66-48.

The Jayhawks (10-12, 1-2 Region 3) were led by forward Hannah Hicks (Cleveland, OH/Cleveland Heights) and guard D'Auzhanay Harden (Erie, PA/Erie HS) who both recorded double-doubles on the day. Hicks, who is first in the country in rebounds per game, scored 15 points while grabbing 22 rebounds (11 offense, 11 defense) with Harden also scoring 15 points and grabbing 11 boards (2 offense, 9 defense).

The Thunderwolves inserted themselves in the first half, outsourcing JCC 43-20. The 23 point deficit did not discourage the Jayhawks from coming out from the break and giving NCCC everything they had until the final buzzer.

To start the third frame, JCC scored six points to the Thunderwovles' two points, slowly chipping away at the lead. Guard Jessica Beehler (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk HS) scored four points on the spirt with guard Kymi Nance (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk HS) adding the other basket.

NCCC saw their biggest lead of the game with 3:29 remaining in the quarter but the Jayhawks kept battling, scoring eight unanswered to close out the third. Harden was the driving force behind the run, scoring four points.

In the fourth quarter, the Jayhawks tightened up their defense, shutting out the Thunderwolves in the final 4:51 of the game and going on a 13-0 run to close out the game.

The Jayhawks went 17-for-67 (25.4 percent) from the field while the Thunderwolves went 23-for-77 (29.9 percent) from the floor. NCCC held the slight edge on the boards, grabbing 58 boards to JCC's 56 boards.

The Jayhawks will be back in action this Wednesday, February 9th, as they host Monroe Community College for their regular season home finale. Tip is set for 5:30 p.m.