Box Score

ONEONTA, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak to Oneonta on Thursday night, defeating the Red Dragons 64-53 in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action at Dewar Arena.
 
With the victory, the Hawks move to 8-5, 4-2 SUNYAC and will prepare to travel to Fredonia on Friday, Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Oneonta falls to 8-5, 3-3 SUNYAC and will play at Buffalo State on Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m.
 
Two players finished in double figures for New Paltz as the Hawks have now won four-straight games. Sophomore guard/forward Kit Small (Slingerlands, N.Y./Academy of the Holy Names) scored a game-high 15 points behind 6-of-10 shooting from the field while grabbing six rebounds and two steals. Freshman guard Sydney Pinn (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) notched a career-high 13 points off the bench behind a 4-of-5 outing from long distance.
 
Freshman guard/forward Laura Stuart (Levittown, N.Y./Division Avenue) pulled in a team-high eight rebounds as the Hawks held a 44-36 edge on the glass, including a 20-8 offensive advantage. New Paltz shot 50 percent from downtown (11-of-22) and outscored the Oneonta bench 36-9.
 
The beginning of the contest was fairly even with neither team claiming more than a three-point lead until the Hawks went on a quick 5-0 spurt to go ahead 13-7 capped by a three by senior guard Ashley Riefenhauser (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y./Dobbs Ferry) with 14:24 to play.
 
But the Red Dragons answered with a 9-2 run in the next four minutes to put the Hawks down just one, 16-15, with 10:10 to go in the opening half. New Paltz adjusted and regained the lead, 24-16, with a 9-0 spark, highlighted by a pair of three-pointers by junior guard Christine Rivera (Long Beach, N.Y./Valley Stream). However, Oneonta battled back and knotted the contest at 24 before scoring the final four points of the half to hand New Paltz a 30-27 deficit at intermission.
 
Much like the first half, the second stanza remained close with both teams seizing a one-point lead until New Paltz went ahead by four (36-32) after a three by Pinn with 15:23 to play. The contest was tied up at 38 before the Hawks drained three-pointers on consecutive possessions, courtesy of Pinn and freshman guard/forward Jasmine Bryant (Elmont, N.Y./St. Mary's College Prep), to take a 44-38 edge with 11:55 left.
 
Once again, Oneonta knotted the game at 44 as the Red Dragons went on a 6-0 spurt. But after that, New Paltz regained the lead and never looked back, using a 19-7 run over the next ten minutes to take complete control of the conference contest.