Hawks seek SUNYAC Championship in 2008-09

NEW PALTZ, NY– SUNY New Paltz returns to the hardwood for head coach Jamie Seward (3rd season) with increased expectations in 2008-09 season. With the departure of four Hawk seniors last season, the Hawks will still be paced by a steady balance of upperclassmen and underclassmen. The Hawks have great depth and will be used to continue the success Seward has brought to the women’s program.

New Paltz brings back four players that started at least 22 games a year ago, led by sophomore forward Artie Williams (Newburgh, NY/New burgh Free Academy). Williams averaged team highs of 12.8 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game. Junior guard Kristen Caban (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph Hill Academy) averaged 10.3 points per game and shot a smooth 43 percent beyond the arc and 81 percent from the free throw stripe. Junior point guard Nicole Sarcone (Staten Island, NY/Notre Dame Academy) led the offensive attack with 5.4 assists per game, contributed 6.0 points per game and led the defense with 2.4 steals per game. Junior forward Carly Minehan (Albany, NY/Albany) contributed 5.9 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game.

They will have a strong supporting cast led by junior guard Maggie Farrell (Hillsdale, NY/Immaculate) who chipped in with 6.7 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game and was second on the team at 77 percent from the free throw stripe. Junior forward Chelsea Clarke (Ithaca, NY/Lansing) added 5.4 points per game and junior forward Kristen Sitek (Ellington, CT/Ellington) and junior guard Abbey DeRossi (Albany, NY/Albany) each contributed 3.0 points per game for the Hawks. Sitek looks to get back on track after suffering from illness last season, where she saw limited time after being a vast contributor her freshman year.

Seward brought in a strong freshman class of seven players that will compete for playing time. Kaitlin Clifford (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) brings her 10.3 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game and 6.1 assists per game to the Hawks that earned her Team MVP in 2007-2008 season. Her team won the 2008 Public School Athletic League (PSAL) Class “A” New York City Championship. Kathleen Folkl (Florida, NY/S.S. Seward Institution) brings her 1,118 career points, 1,027 career rebounds and three Sections Nine Class “D” Championships and a Class “C” Runner-Up to the Hawks.  Samantha DelGaudio (Newburgh, NY/Newburgh Free Academy) averaged 12 points, six rebounds and six assists and earned all-league honors.  Zoe Cohen (Brooklyn, NY/The Berkeley Carroll School) averaged 22 points per game and won Team and League MVP from her sophomore to senior year. Caitlin Irwin (Brooklyn, NY/ Bishop Kearney) averaged 19 points per game and was named Team MVP three times. Stefanie Mignone (Farmingville, NY/Sachem) earned Rookie of the Year in 2005-2006 and averaged 7 points per game, 10 rebounds per game and 3 assists per game. Bridget Grover (Rockville Centre, NY/Holy Trinity) will add to the depth and propel the Hawks in a very challenging conference and non-conference schedule.

New Paltz will need the young and the old to mix into a cohesive unit quickly as the Hawks have one of the toughest schedules in the SUNYAC Conference. The Hawks open up against Kean College on the road that has been to the Elite Eight two years in a row. The Hawks opening home game will be in the 1st Annual SUNY New Paltz Tip-Off Classic November 19th against Wheaton College. Other teams participating in the tournament are Farmingdale and William Smith. New Paltz travels to Stevens, Staten Island, and Baruch for non-conference schedules. The Hawks will host an always tough team from New York University, SUNY Utica/Rome and Norwich. New Paltz will have one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the SUNYAC Conference. SUNY New Paltz remaining games will be played in the SUNYAC Conference-East Division.