Hocker’s 35-point, 21-rebound performance powers York (Pa.) past Fitchburg State, 98-45

York (Pa.) used a dominant third-quarter surge and a monster outing from Alyssa Hocker to pull away from Fitchburg State for a 98-45 victory on Saturday afternoon at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Spartans turned a 14-point halftime lead into a 38-point cushion by the end of the third quarter, outscoring Fitchburg State 28-4 in the period to put the game out of reach.

Hocker led the way with 35 points and 21 rebounds on 14-of-26 shooting, adding six steals, two assists and a 5-for-5 effort at the free-throw line. Her activity around the rim helped York control the glass 70-39, including 32 offensive rebounds that repeatedly extended possessions and fueled a 54-16 advantage in points in the paint.

York established control early, using a 25-point opening quarter to build an 11-point lead. Breana Grim gave York its first lead with a 3-pointer at the 9:01 mark of the first, and the Spartans closed the period with a buzzer-beating layup from Taylor Brenneman to go up 25-14. Fitchburg State responded with its best stretch of the afternoon in the second quarter, trimming the deficit to single digits before Hocker and Grim combined for late buckets to send York into halftime ahead 48-34.

The decisive stretch came immediately after the break. York opened the third quarter on a decisive run, highlighted by a Hocker 3-pointer at 7:44 that pushed the margin to 55-36. The Spartans’ defense clamped down, limiting Fitchburg State to just four points in the frame while forcing turnovers and finishing stops with defensive rebounds. A late layup by Makenna Zimmerman made it 76-38 heading to the fourth, capping a 28-4 third-quarter dominance that effectively sealed the contest.

York kept its intensity in the fourth, continuing to share the ball and getting contributions throughout the lineup. Grim finished with 24 points on 8-of-19 shooting, including 3-of-9 from 3-point range, and knocked down 5-of-6 free throws. Morgan Adams added 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three blocks as York’s frontcourt controlled the interior on both ends. The Spartans recorded 24 assists on 39 made field goals and committed just nine turnovers while forcing 26, converting those mistakes into 29 points off turnovers.

Overall, York shot 41.1% from the field (39-for-95) and 82.4% at the foul line (14-for-17), while holding Fitchburg State to 24.6% shooting (17-for-69). Fitchburg State went 7-for-21 (33.3%) from beyond the arc and 4-for-8 at the stripe. Rylie Harlow was a bright spot for the Falcons with a team-high 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, to go with four rebounds and two assists.

York capped its scoring on a late jumper from Keira Pombar in the final seconds to set the final margin at 98-45. Behind Hocker’s standout performance, overwhelming rebounding and a suffocating second-half defensive effort, the Spartans closed out their Daytona Beach appearance with one of their most comprehensive wins of the season.