NEW YORK, N.Y. — The Hunter College women's basketball team defeated United States Merchant Marine Academy, 72–68, in the Hawks' home opener on Monday evening, handing the Mariners their first season-opening loss since 2017—also delivered by Hunter—while the Hawks improved to 2–0 on the season.
Alexa Charles recorded her second straight triple-double and the fifth of her career, finishing with 33 points, 12 rebounds, 10 steals and five assists while shooting 13-of-25 from the floor and 2-of-5 from three. Gianna Henriques added 10 points, five rebounds and two blocks on 3-of-6 shooting to continue her strong start to the season.
Hunter opened the game with early momentum behind Charles, who assisted on a Kennedy DeRuy three before scoring six straight points in transition to build a 10–6 lead midway through the first. Charles added another fast-break layup and a catch-and-shoot three to push the advantage to 13–6, but the Hawks saw the margin disappear late in the period as USMMA closed on an extended run, sending Hunter into the break trailing 24–17.
The Hawks chipped away early in the second behind a Sophie Stratton three in transition and defensive stops from Charles and Henriques, who combined for multiple rebounds and blocks. Charles scored five straight points midway through the quarter, and Makkedah Murray added a layup off a steal to cut the deficit to 32–26. Charles continued to fuel the comeback with back-to-back buckets in the final minute, pulling Hunter within 37–30 at halftime.
The Hawks' surge carried into the third. After Henriques opened the quarter with two free throws, Charles slashed for a pair of layups, then assisted DeRuy for a three to trim the gap to 44–41. Murray followed with a deep three to tie it, and moments later Charles buried another triple to knot the game again at 49–49. Hunter took its first lead of the second half when Paulina Bonilla converted a fast-break layup, assisted by Ali Drake, as the Hawks entered the fourth trailing just 56–53 after a late jumper by Wanhua Peng.
Hunter seized control early in the fourth when Stratton scored inside off a pass from Peng to make it 56–55. After USMMA briefly stretched the margin, Henriques delivered a key stretch—pulling down rebounds, scoring through contact, and forcing a turnover that led to points at the line. DeRuy then drove for a layup to cut it to 66–64 with just over two minutes left.
Charles tied the game at 66 on a transition finish with 1:44 remaining, and Henriques knocked down a short jumper on the next possession to give Hunter a 68–66 lead. After two free throws from Charles extended the margin to four with 27 seconds left, the Hawks closed the game out at the line, as Mia Fuller hit two free throws in the final seconds and Charles secured one last steal to seal the win.
Hunter finished with seven made threes, 20 assists and 20 steals, generating 32 fast-break points and 29 points off turnovers.
The Hawks return to the court on Nov. 15 at Wesleyan University for a 6:30 p.m. game.
