Hawks Fall to Conference Rival Oneonta

NEW PALTZ, NY — The SUNY New Paltz women’s basketball team dropped their home opener this evening to conference rival Oneonta, 63-60. The Hawks fall to 0-1 in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) and 1-3 overall, while Oneonta advances to 1-0 in the SUNYAC and 3-1 overall.

SUNY New Paltz (1-3, 0-1) shot 54.2% from the field in the opening period and found themselves leading 34-31 at the half. The Red Dragons kept the contest within reach, converting three-of-ten from beyond the three-point line in the first half.

With 5:57 left in the game, senior guard Gabrielle Doemel (Latham, NY) netted a three-pointer giving Oneonta (3-1, 1-0) the lead for the first time in the game, 54-53. Though the Hawks dominated the court for the first thirty-five minutes of the game, they could not withstand the late offensive surge of the Red Dragons. Freshman guard Christie Podgorski (Schenectady, NY) landed a crucial three at 2:29 to give Oneonta a five-point cushion.

The Hawks sophomore guard Amber Sohns (Delhi, NY) would convert a lay-up to bring SUNY New Paltz within three. Junior point-guard Kerri Kelty (Valley Stream, NY) would steal the ball and assist Alexzandria Cruse (Poughkeepsie, NY) on a lay-up to bring the Hawks within one. A late foul by the Hawks would send junior guard Melissa Donohue (Niverville, NY) to the line to collect two more points for Oneonta, solidifying the 63-60 victory for the Red Dragons.

Three Hawks finished the night in double figures. Cruse led the Hawks charge totaling 16 points and ten rebounds in the contest. Kelty finished the night with eleven points, five rebounds, and five assists. Sohns totaled ten points and four rebounds in the game. Oneonta (3-1) proved too much for the Hawks shooting 38% from the field for the contest. Three Red Dragons finished the night in double figures Doemel and freshman guard Shannon Weir (Oneonta, NY) registered ten points. Podgorski was six-of-twelve from the field, totaling 16 points in the win.

The SUNY New Paltz women’s basketball team returns to action on Saturday December 3, for a 2:00 pm game at conference rival Potsdam.