Hoffman Estates 58, Palatine 35

The Thanksgiving and Christmas tournament titles were nice.

The seven-game winning streak and 14-5 record heading into Friday's home game were encouraging.

But there was still something missing.

"It's been hard the past two years -- we've had a streak of not winning games in conference, winning games out of conference," said Hoffman junior Megan Fischer.

Not Friday night. With Fischer leading the way with a game-high 16 points, the Hawks' 58-35 victory over Palatine (7-14, 1-4) not only gave Hoffman (15-5, 1-4) its first Mid-Suburban West win of the season, it matched its conference victory total from last season.

But the 23-point win won't provide the exact blueprint Hoffman will follow if it hopes to build its resume in the second half of conference play.

In the first half, the Hawks shot 32 percent (9 of 28) from the field, committed 7 turnovers and gave the Pirates permanent resident status on the free throw line.

"When we get into the state play it's going to be crucial that we make all of our layups and not have ticky-tack fouls because they were in the bonus in the first quarter," Fischer said.

Actually it was 1:08 into the second quarter, but her message was clear.

"We have to move our feet more and not get so many fouls," Hoffman junior Megan Evans said after her 8-point, 4-rebound effort.

But Hoffman avoided further damage as Palatine missed 10 of 16 free throw attempts in the second quarter and shot 40 percent (9-of-22) from the foul line in the first half.

"Neither team could get into a rhythm -- there was a ton of fouls (26) in the first half," said Palatine coach Ron Theberge. "(The free throw shooting) could have made it a different game, but even in the third quarter, when push came to shove, we couldn't make any kind of run."

The Hawks did. Trailing 9-7 in the first quarter, Hoffman tied it on a putback from Evans and rolled off 20 of the final 26 points of the first half as Palatine was held without a field goal in the second quarter.

The Pirates were also out-rebounded 20-10 in the first half as 6-foot-3 junior Katie MacFabe (7 points) and 6-foot junior Lauren Orris each picked up 2 fouls within the opening 4:10.

Senior Sarah Iuorio led Palatine with 9 points and Megan Boecher added 7.

Hoffman freshman Jada Stotts scored 11 points and grabbed 5 rebounds, Megan Bernardoni scored 6, and Missy Douglas and Carol King each tallied 5 for the Hawks, who'll need that balanced scoring next Friday when they travel to Conant in a rematch of a 38-34 loss on Dec. 15.

"They're not going to be easy, said Hoffman coach Mike Nocella. "We've been winning outside the conference, now we're going to try and start winning inside the conference."