Willimantic, Conn.- Despite a valiant effort, the Hunter College Hawks (2-8) fell 98-64 to St. Mary's (MD) in the opening round of the Eastern Holiday Invitational at Geissler Gymnasium, hosted by Eastern Connecticut State on Sunday afternoon.

Forward Sal Saputo led the way for Hunter with a dominant double-double, recording 22 points on 8-for-22 shooting while pulling down 10 rebounds. Saputo's aggressive play on both ends of the court helped the Hawks stay competitive early, as he accounted for nearly half of the team's first-half points. Jack Meyers provided a spark off the bench, contributing 12 points on an efficient 5-for-9 shooting, including two three-pointers. Meyers also added five rebounds and two steals in a strong two-way performance.

Despite their effort, the Hawks struggled with efficiency, shooting 35.7% from the field and just 26.3% from beyond the arc. However, the team's work on the boards was commendable, as the Hawks pulled down 42 rebounds, led by Saputo and freshman forward Kristian Nunez, who collected five rebounds in just 16 minutes of play. Hunter showed resilience in the second half, improving their shooting and converting 75% of their free throws after the break.

The Hawks will look to bounce back in the consolation game against Anna Maria University on December 30 at 12 p.m. as they close out their participation in the tournament.