NEW PALTZ, NY – — Paced by three players in double figures, the SUNY New Paltz women’s basketball team stopped a six-game losing streak with a 62-52 win over Vassar this evening at Elting Gym.
The Hawks outscored Vassar 16-6 in the final 6:49 to improve their record to 4-7. Junior guard Maura McShane (East Rockaway, NY) gave New Paltz the lead for good with a three-pointer that put the Hawks ahead 49-46. McShane finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists and received help from sophomore forward Tarah Norris (Port Jervis, NY) who led the Hawks with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
After trailing by five at halftime, Vassar started the second half strong behind the play of senior forward Carleen Aubee (Chepachet, RI). Aubee scored 10 of her game- high 21 points in the first five minutes of the half and helped the Brewers take a 40-35 lead with 14:57 remaining.
Vassar (2-6) maintained a five-point advantage through the 12-minute mark before New Paltz began to narrow the Brewers gap.
In the first half, freshman guard Colleen Kelly (Hyde Park, NY) and sophomore guard Kim Weigel (Whitestone, NY) hit back-to-back three-pointers that keyed a 9-2 New Paltz run and put the Hawks ahead 23-16 with seven minutes remaining. Weigel finished the game with 12 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Kelly added nine points, four assists and four steals.
Vassar also received a strong performance from freshman guard Natalie Serkowski (Clinton Corners, NY) who had 15 points, six rebounds and four assists.
