Box Score Box Score

CORTLAND, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team (12-9, 10-4 SUNYAC) fell in a 13-0 hole to start Tuesday evening's State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) clash with SUNY Cortland (15-4, 9-3 SUNYAC) at Corey Gym, and the Red Dragons continued to make life difficult for the Hawks throughout the game, winning by a 85-51 final.

Tuesday's contest served as a make-up from last Tuesday, Feb. 1. A winter storm that enveloped New York forced a postponement, moving the meeting forward a week.

Five Red Dragons scored during that 13-0 run to open the tilt, and New Paltz reached the scoreboard after junior guard Caitlin Irwin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) drilled three-pointer with 15:47 remaining in the half. The Hawks stormed back midway through the period, as junior guard Zoe Cohen (Brooklyn, N.Y.) connected from deep to bring New Paltz within five at 23-18. New Paltz came within five once more in the frame, but a 23-9 Cortland run to close the half would put the Hawks in a hole from which they could not escape. The Red Dragons led by 18 at the break (49-31).

The second half was nearly as lopsided as the first, and a number of New Paltz reserves logged significant playing time. Cortland led by as many as 37 in the period and never allowed the Hawks to come within 18, which was the margin at the half.

New Paltz struggled from the field, shooting 17-of-72 (23.6 percent) on the night. Cortland, on the other hand, scored with relative ease from the floor, knocking down 50 percent of its shots (27-of-54). Cortland also shot 71.9 percent (23-of-32) from the free-throw line, while New Paltz shot just 50 percent (11-of-22). In spite of their scoring woes, the Hawks did outrebound the Red Dragons by a 53-36 edge.

Twelve different New Paltz players scored. Sophomore forward Alex McCullough (Delmar, N.Y.) was the Hawks' leading scorer with 10 points in just eight minutes of action. Sophomore guard Kahsyrah Bryant (North Babylon, N.Y.) and freshman forwards Stefanie Klapper (Roslyn, N.Y.) and Elizabeth Hauser (East Williston, N.Y.) all held the game-high in rebounds with seven. Defensively, sophomore guard Maliqua Fisher (North Babylon, N.Y.) and Cohen each led the squad with three steals, while five different Hawks recorded a block.

Cortland was paced by Molly Byrne, who poured in a game-high 20 points and led five Red Dragons in double figures. Jen Polan (16), Jennifer Patten (14), Micki Volpini (11) and Megan Maycumber (10) all added double-digit scoring totals. Polan nearly posted a double-double with eight assists and stuffed the stat sheet with five boards as well.

New Paltz looks to halt its two-game skid this weekend when it hosts The College at Brockport and SUNY Geneseo. The Hawks tip with Brockport at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 11, before taking on Geneseo at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12.