Hawks Hold Off Tufts in Double-Overtime

NEW PALTZ, NY- The SUNY New Paltz women’s basketball team defeated Tufts University Friday night, 80-78 (Box Score) in double-overtime to advance to the championship game against Farmingdale State (6 p.m.) in the Rino’s Pizza Tip-Off Tournament held at SUNY New Paltz. The Hawks improve to 2-0 on the season as Tufts falls to 0-1 overall. Tufts will play CUNY York in the consolation game at 1 p.m. tomorrow.

“It was a long game and we did not panic. Maliqua Fisher stepped up big for us tonight, hitting three baskets in a row” stated head coach Jamie Seward. “We have a lot of talent right now, I have 13 girls that can contribute and it’s a problem I like having.”

Senior Maggie Farrell had a team-high 21 points and eight rebounds and senior Carly Minehan netted 13 points and had nine rebounds for the Hawks. Sophomore Caitlin Irwin had 11 points and eight rebounds and senior Nicole Sarcone had a great all around game with eight points, nine rebounds and a game-high six assists.

The Jumbos Colleen Hart scored a game-high 31 points and Julia Baily had a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Kate Barnosky also had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

The Hawks trailed 59-52 with 3:34 remaining in the second half. The Hawks would use a 9-2 run to tie the game at 61-61 with 57 seconds to go. After a lay-up by Tufts Baily with 41 seconds left to give the Jumbos a 63-61 lead, Sarcone was fouled and hit both free throws to tie the game with 30 seconds left. The Hawks defense did not allow Tufts to take a shot at the end of the game to force overtime.

In the first overtime, Tufts jumped out quickly with a five points lead a minute in. The Hawks would take a70-68 lead with 13 seconds remaining. The Jumbos Tiffany Kornegay would send the game into double-overtime with a lay-up with five seconds left. In the second overtime, the Hawks trailed 78-76 with a 1:09 remaining. After back-to-back free throws by Farrell the Hawks tied the contest at 78-78. A turnover by Barnosky with 26 seconds remaining game the Hawks the chance for the win. Farrell drove to the basket and scored as time expired. “Farrell has been working extremely hard and she has earned to be the go-to player for us” said Seward. “When I was the assistant at Union, I had an All-American and Maggie is that type of player and the sky is the limit for her.”

Tufts started the game on a 12-0 run in the first 3:30 minutes. The Hawks responded with a 23-6 run over the next 10 minutes to take a 23-18 lead with just over six minutes remaining in the half. The Jumbos would tie the game at 31-31 at the half.