SUNY New Paltz Women’s Basketball Earns Shot at SUNYAC Seed

NEW PALTZ, NY — The SUNY New Paltz women’s basketball team defeated Plattsburgh in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) contest, 48-42, to close out their regular season schedule.

SUNY New Paltz (10-15, 4-12) and Plattsburgh opened this evening with the eighth and final seed for the SUNYAC Championship Tournament on the line. The teams battled early, until junior guard Kerri Kelty (Valley Stream, NY) and sophomore guard Toni Marie Caserta (Levittown, NY) nailed back-to-back three pointers with 4:22, remaining in the first half, to put the Hawks up seven, 25-18. SUNY New Paltz entered halftime up 30-22 behind the strong play of Kelty and sophomore forward Amber Sohns (Delhi, NY). Sohns led the Hawks with seven points in the opening half, while Kelty collected with six points. The Cardinals received six points in the first half from senior guard Rene Klementowski (Scotia, NY), as senior forward Felecia Edwards (Troy, NY) tallied seven boards for Plattsburgh (6-18, 4-11).

The Hawks kept the Cardinals at a safe distance for the majority of the second half. Plattsburgh cut the SUNY New Paltz lead to two with 2:30 remaining on the clock. After two free throws from junior forward Kristin Jackson (East Islip, NY) and a lay-up from sophomore center Christine Trupiano (Massapequa, NY), the Hawks pushed their advantage back to six points and sealed the 48-42 victory.

Trupiano turned in a solid second half with eight points and 12 rebounds, seven offensively. Both Jackson and Sohns finished the night with nine points apiece, Sohns added seven rebounds and two blocks on defense.

Klementowski led the Cardinals with ten points, while junior guard Yuri Inomata (Saitama, Japan) scored eight points, while grabbing seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Edwards finished with eight rebounds.

Senior forward Sandra Glazewski (Dobbs Ferry, NY) played in her final home contest as a Hawk. She scored six points, tallied five rebounds and grabbed two steals.

With a Plattsburgh loss to Oneonta tomorrow, Saturday, February 18, the Hawks will earn the eighth and final SUNYAC Championship Tournament seed.