The New Paltz Women’s Basketball Team is really getting into their groove, having won four out of the five games they’ve competed in this season. On Saturday, Nov. 20, they traveled to Dallas, Pennsylvania and defeated Misericordia University 72-63. One week after that, they handed Union College a 66-56 loss.
Though they would end up beating the Cougars, their success story started from the bottom. Misericordia held a lead over the Hawks in quarter one that New Paltz could not get on top of, but that does not mean that they did not try.
Third-year guard Lexi Van Vorst was a truly dominant force in the game. Within the first four minutes she collected six points for the Hawks in a layup in the paint and a jumper in the paint. Second-year guard/forward Brianna Fitzgerald added on a 3-pointer to tie the game at 11, but the Cougars quickly got the lead again.
It took the Hawks almost the full half of the game to get the lead. Second-year guard/forward Madison Mullman got two 3-pointers in a row to give New Paltz a 33-30 lead going into quarter three.
The last half of the game was very exciting for New Paltz. They took the lead they earned and ran with it. Second-year forward Abby Korzekwinski started it out with a layup, followed by a 3-pointer each from Fitzgerald and Van Vorst, but even that wasn’t the end. New Paltz continued to score, off of layups, free throws and a jumper. New Paltz ended the third 55-37.
The Cougars threatened the Hawks’ lead in the final 10 minutes of the game, but New Paltz held on. Free throws helped their cause greatly, whereas missed opportunities hurt Misericordia more.
That win helped New Paltz keep their spirits high for their next appearance, after the break. New Paltz kicked off the Union game with three jumpers in the paint, from third-year guard Graci Serravillo, third-year guard/forward Maddie Gillis and Mullman. New Paltz held a narrow 15-13 lead going into quarter two.
In quarter two, the lead flipped back and forth. Union grabbed it back early, New Paltz worked hard for it back, but with 19 seconds left in the quarter Union added two points to finish with it, 32-31.
Only 20 minutes remained in the game, and with such a close score, could New Paltz lock it down?
Yes, in the third quarter Fitzgerald came to save the day and earned 9 points to her name, giving New Paltz an eight point go ahead for the last quarter.
Fitzgerald had yet another dominant and impressive quarter. She contributed two 3-pointers, two free throws and a jumper.
In the end, the Hawks had 21 bench points compared to Union’s four, and 12 fast break points to Union’s one, showing that they were a force in all aspects of the game.
New Paltz also beat Oneonta on Nov. 30, creating a four game winning streak.
Up next, on Friday, Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m. New Paltz is traveling to Potsdam. The Hawks currently have a 13 game winning streak against the Bears, dating back to 2014. Can they make it a 14 game streak on the third? We will soon find out.
