Box Score Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Sophomore guard Maliqua Fisher (North Babylon, N.Y.) scored a career-high 25 points off of 10-of-11 shooting from the floor and four three throws, as the State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team (6-5, 4-0 SUNYAC) topped visiting SUNY Fredonia (2-8, 0-4 SUNYAC) by a 68-49 final in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action in the Hawk Center Saturday afternoon.

Fisher's previous career-high of 23 came earlier this season when the Hawks beat Baruch College, 79-77, on Nov. 15, and her line from Saturday's game included a team-high nine rebounds, one assist and three steals.

She was joined in double figures by sophomore forward Alex McCullough (Delmar, N.Y.), who drained 11 points to go along with three assists, three blocks and two steals. Junior forward Shanay Bradley (Bronx, N.Y.) posted three blocks as well. Junior guard Zoe Cohen (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had four steals and three assists, while McCullough and sophomore guard Kahsyrah Bryant (North Babylon, N.Y.) matched Cohen's team-high assist total.

For Fredonia, Becky Hebert and Jaimie Warren each reached double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Anna Riley helped fuel the Blue Devils on the glass, snaring a game-high 11 rebounds. Liz Wierbinski also pulled down nine boards, while Warren added eight. On defense, Grace Moore caused problems for the Hawks, totaling four steals.

The outcome of the game was in little doubt after the first three minutes of action. Fredonia clung to a 6-5 lead, but that cushion evaporated, as New Paltz reclaimed the advantage at 7-6 with 16:42 to go in the first half when Fisher scored a layup on a fast break. From that point forward, the Hawks would never trail, leading by as many as 28 in the lopsided affair. New Paltz outscored Fredonia 38-23 in the first half and built on the lead in the second stanza, scoring 30 points to the Blue Devils' 26.

While New Paltz shot well from the field at 36.9 percent (24-of-65), the Hawks' signature strong interior play was trumped by the Blue Devils' post players. Fredonia held the upper hand in the rebounding battle, grabbing 52 caroms to New Paltz's 42, including a 25-to-18 margin on the offensive glass. The Hawks were able to mount a sizable cushion on the scoreboard due to 44.1 percent shooting from the floor in the first half, connecting on 15-of-34 shots.

The Hawks' defense also forced the Blue Devils into a myriad number of mistakes, as Fredonia turned the ball over 35 times on the afternoon.

New Paltz, which is tied for first in the league standings at a perfect 4-0 in conference play, hosts SUNY Cortland on Tuesday, Jan. 11, in a battle of two teams unbeaten in the SUNYAC. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. in the Hawk Center.