First Half Surge Propels Hawks; Cortland Suffers First Conference Loss

NEW PALTZ, NY- The SUNY New Paltz women’s basketball team hosted Cortland Tuesday night in the Hawks Center and defeated the Red Dragons 67-64. New Paltz snapped Cortland’s nine-game win streak and handed the Red Dragons their first conference loss of the season. Four Hawk players finished in double figures in the victory.

In the first half, the Hawks trailed by as many as 14 points with 4:35 remaining before freshman guard Caitlin Irwin (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) nailed three shots from behind the arc over the next two minutes to help the Hawks finish the half on a 17-4 run. Junior forward Chelsea Clarke (Ithaca, NY/Lansing) tallied four points three rebounds in the first half as Irwin finished the half with 12 points and three steals. Sophomore forward Artie Williams (Newburgh, NY/Newburgh Free Academy) added six points and six rebounds.

Jessica Laing led the Red Dragons in the first half with 12 points and four rebounds and Kristin Ciccone chipped in with seven points and four rebounds.

Williams propelled the Hawks in the second half with 14 points and scored eight straight points for the Hawks to give them their first lead of the game at 41-40 with 14:49 remaining in the game. Williams finished with game-highs of 20 points and 12 rebounds. Junior guard Nicole Sarcone (Staten Island, NY/Notre Dame Academy) sealed the deal for the Hawks going 4-for-6 from the line and finished with 11 points and a game-high seven assists. Junior guard Maggie Farrell (Hillsdale, NY/Immaculate) scored ten points had six rebounds and four assists on the night.

Cortland was led by Michelle Volpini with 15 points and three steals and Laing finished with 14 points and nine rebounds. Ciccone added 11 points and six assists. Cortland falls to 15-3 overall and 8-1 in the SUNYAC.

The Hawks improve to 12-5 overall and 8-2 in the SUNYAC and return to the court Saturday at 2 p.m. against Oneonta in the Hawk Center.