Basketball Recap: Hart's Run of Five Straight Victories Now Over

It was a good run, but Hart unfortunately witnessed the end of their five-game winning streak on Friday. They fell to the Valencia Vikings 53-48. The Hawks were not able to repeat the success they had when they faced the Vikings earlier this season, when they won 65-35.

Hart's loss came despite strong showings from Morgan Mack and Andrea Aina. Mack went 7 for 15 on her way to 25 points along with eight rebounds and three steals, while Aina posted 14 points and three steals. The match was Mack's third in a row with at least ten points.

Even though they lost, Hart smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 12 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive boards in six consecutive contests.

Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Valencia to victory, but perhaps none more so than Kamilla Basyrova, who went 7 of 15 en route to 20 points. Basyrova is on a roll when it comes to points, as she's now scored 16 or more in the last 13 games she's played. Cara McKell was another key player, almost dropping a double-double on nine points and nine boards.

Hart's loss was their first in the league, dropping their league record down to 6-1 and their overall record down to 15-6. As for Valencia, their victory was their sixth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 18-3.

Hart didn't take long to hit the court again: they've already played their next game, a 60-46 defeat against Crescenta Valley on the 20th. Valencia has also already played their next matchup, a 35-31 win against Saugus on the 21st.