After a Feb. 4 victory over SUNY Cortland, the Women’s Basketball team missed the chance for a three-game run after losing to Buffalo State and SUNY Fredonia last weekend.
The Lady Hawks trailed 37-32 at the half against Lady Bengals Feb. 7 and were unable to close the gap going into the second, leading to a 78-55 win for Buffalo State. The following day the Lady Blue Devils had a 52 shooting percentage during the game and held a strong lead throughout the contest, overcoming the Lady Hawks 81-59.
The Lady Hawks’ first encounter with both the Lady Bengals and Lady Blue Devils on the road early in the season ended in a similar result, with Buffalo State defeating New Paltz 84-60 and Fredonia winning the match-up 85-61.
“Our last home game is huge for our confidence and we really wanted to do well for our team because we have not done as well at home as we did in the past,” third-year Captain Shannan Walker said.
Even though the team didn’t beat these tough competitors the second time around, Walker said the players have progressed so much since their first meeting with these two teams.
“We’re not the same team we were when we played them two months ago,” she said.
Head Coach Jamie Seward credits first-year guard/forward Kit Small and first-year forward Courtney Irby with scoring and rebounding, as well as second-year Captain Goldie Harrison with exceptional team leading.
“Goldie is maturing and growing up into a really good leader,” Seward said. “She is developing a strong coach/point guard relationship.”
The Lady Hawks’ work ethic and energy is one of the strengths the team possesses and hopes to improve on, fourth-year Captain Jeanette Scott said.
“We’re very aggressive and attacking, forcing a lot of turnovers which results in a lot of shots,” Scott said.
Seward said a weakness the team needs to focus on includes rebounding the ball and increasing posession time for the Lady Hawks.
Walker agreed.
“Consistency on defense and rebounding, and making adjustments on the court” is what the team needs to work on in the future Walker said, adding that it is good for the returning players to learn the way the team plays as a whole, which will be another key ingredient in the team’s success in the upcoming seasons.
The Lady Hawks will take on SUNY Oneonta on Friday, Feb. 14 and their final two away games against The College at Brockport and SUNY Geneseo will take place the following week.