The Hamilton College Continentals outscored local opponent SUNY Polytechnic 64-47 in a non-conference matchup at Hamilton's Margaret Bundy Scott Field House on Tuesday night.

With the win, the Continentals (7-7 overall) return to .500 on the season. Hamilton collected 34 points from its bench and 28 points in the paint. The Continentals were nearly perfect from the free-throw line at 95.7 percent (22-23).

SUNY Poly (10-6), a member of the North Atlantic Conference, shot just 25.4 percent from the field and went 15-for-31 at the line. The Wildcats grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and scored 16 second-chance points.

Kelcie Zarle '22 paced the Continentals with 14 points while going 5-for-5 at the line. Claire Sehring '22 collected 10 points and eight rebounds, and Katie Hansen '24 and Courtney Shay '24 recorded a career-high nine points apiece off the bench. Tessa Cole '25, Emily Hall '24 and Olivia Davis '23 tallied six each. Emma Sehring '23 earned seven boards and three assists, and Hall came up with three steals.

Lyrik Jackson led the Wildcats with 12 points and nine rebounds. Molly Burdick brought in 11 points, seven boards, four assists and two blocked shots.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 6-0 advantage before Cole cut her team's deficit in half with a 3-pointer. Tied at 10 apiece, Hamilton bridged the end of the first quarter and the start of the second with a 14-2 run for a 24-12 lead.

SUNY Poly found its offensive rhythm and cut the Continentals' lead to three points at 31-28 with 3:25 remaining in the half. Claire Sehring answered with a layup and a pair of free throws, and a Cole 3-ball and Hall layup pushed the Hamilton advantage back up to 12 points. The Continentals took their 40-30 lead into the break.

Hamilton outpaced the Wildcats 14-6 in the third quarter and enjoyed an 18-point cushion with 10 minutes to go. Hall started the last quarter with two shots from the line and secured Hamilton's largest lead of 20 points at 56-36. SUNY Poly never got back within single digits in the second half. 

Hamilton will travel to Amherst College (9-1, 2-1 NESCAC) for a conference game at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 22. The Mammoths are ranked fifth in the Top 25 coaches poll and seventh by D3hoops.com.