NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team is building confidence heading into their final two games of a five-game home stand, facing Potsdam and Plattsburgh this weekend, Feb. 6-7.
RECORDS: New Paltz is 12-6 overall with an 8-3 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) record… Potsdam is 1-17 overall, 0-11 in conference… Plattsburgh is 9-9 overall with a 6-5 SUNYAC record.
SCOUTING THE HAWKS (12-6, 8-3): The Hawks are currently tied with Cortland for second in the conference… New Paltz in the midst of a three-game winning streak and have won eight of their previous nine contests… New Paltz is coming off of a narrow five-point victory against Oneonta at home on Tuesday night… Sophomore guard/forward
Kit Small and senior guard
Ashley Riefenhauser led the way with 11 points each in the win… Sophomore forward
Courtney Irby ripped down a game-high 11 rebounds while Small dished out a game-high five assists… The Hawks led the entire second half due to consistent shooting across the board… For every Oneonta run, New Paltz seemed to have an answer, including two clutch free throws from senior guard
Shannan Walker after the Hawks' lead was cut down from 11 to three in the closing minutes.
STATISICAL LEADERSPoints: Small (11.3 ppg), Walker (8.1 ppg),
Colleen Ames (7.8 ppg)
Rebounds: Irby (7.2 rpg),
Laura Stuart (6.5 rpg), Small (6.3 rpg)
Assists:
Goldie Harrison (2.4 apg), Small (2.0 apg), Walker (1.8 apg)
Blocks: Small (0.6 bpg), Irby (0.4 bpg),
Jasmine Bryant (0.3 bpg)
Steals: (1.9 spg), Harrison (1.9 spg), Walker (1.4 spg)
TEAM STATISTICS: Defensively, the Hawks hold their opponents to a league-low 23.7 three-point percentage… In addition, New Paltz forces a league-high 26 turnovers per game, leading the league with 12.17 steals per game as well… The Hawks are also second in the league in rebounding with 46 rebounds per game… Offensively, the Hawks lead the SUNYAC with 6.9 made three pointers per game and are third in the league in scoring margin (+7.1).
SCOUTING THE BEARS (1-17, 0-11): The Bears are currently in last place in the SUNYAC, unable to pull out a conference win thus far… Potsdam is six games out of that final playoff spot with seven games left in the regular season… Potsdam is looking to snap a 15-game losing skid, with their last win occuring on Nov. 23 versus Canton... The Bears' most recent games took place at home against Fredonia and Buffalo State Jan. 30-31… Senior guard and co-captain Carli Reynolds averaged 14.5 ppg, dished out 4.0 apg, and picked off 2.5 spg, while junior forward Katie Lavoie grabbed 8.5 rpg over the weekend… Potsdam lost to Fredonia by 30 and Buffalo State by 31.
STATISTICAL LEADERSPoints: Reynolds (13.0 ppg), Bailey Weigel (12.1 ppg), Lavoie (7.1 ppg)
Rebounds: Weigel (8.4 rpg), Lavoie (4.6 rpg), Veronica Sapp (4.4 rpg)
Assists: Colleen McNamara (2.7 apg), Meghan Driscoll (2.5 apg), Weigel (2.1 apg)
Blocks: Weigel (1.0 bpg), McNamara (0.2 bpg), Patti Dorgler (0.2 bpg)
Steals: Reynolds (1.6 spg), Sapp (1.6 spg), Weigel (1.4 spg)
TEAM STATISTICS: Potsdam is second in the SUNYAC with 9.78 spg… The Bears rank fifth in the league in three-point field goal defense (30.2 percent)… The Bears rank sixth in three-pointers made per game (4.8)… Potsdam ranks fifth in turnover margin.
LAST MEETING: New Paltz beat Potsdam at Potsdam 71-51 when these two teams played earlier on Dec. 6, 2014.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS (9-9, 6-5): Plattsburgh is tied with Oneonta for fifth in the conference… The Cardinals share a game and a half lead over Fredonia who is fighting for that final playoff spot… Plattsburgh's most recent games took place at home against Buffalo State and Fredonia Jan. 30-31 as well… Over the weekend, junior forward Devona Paul averaged 21.0 ppg, senior guard/forward Misha Green pulled down 7.0 rpg, and senior guard Brittany Marshall handed out 5.0 apg… This weekend, Marshall has a chance to become the all-time program leader in assists, trying to break the record set by Suzane Souza from 1984-88… The Cardinals beat Buffalo State by 30 but lost to Fredonia in a nail biter by six points.
STATISTICAL LEADERSPoints: Paul (14.8 ppg), Marshall (13.2 ppg), Allie Taylor (11.0 ppg)
Rebounds: Paul (7.6 rpg), Green (5.6 rpg), Taylor (5.2 rpg)
Assists: Marshall (5.2 apg), Jax Miler (2.3 apg), Stephanie Linder (1.8 apg)
Blocks: Paul (1.9 bpg), Taylor (0.8 bpg), Shanielle Chambers (0.4 bpg)
Steals: Linder (2.2 spg), Shawna Thornton (1.4 spg), Marshall (1.3 spg)
TEAM STATISTICS: Plattsburgh is second in the league with 65.2 ppg… The Cardinals lead the SUNYAC in free throw percentage (72.5 percent)… Plattsburgh ranks third in defensive rebounds (29.1 rpg)… The Cardinals are tied for first in the SUNYAC in assists (14.0 apg)… The Cardinals lead the league in attendance.
LAST MEETING: The Hawks fell at the Cardinals 71-65 when these two teams met earlier this year on Dec. 5, 2014.
WHAT'S NEXT: New Paltz hits the road for three-straight games, taking on Oswego on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m…. Potsdam plays at Oswego on Friday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m…. Plattsburgh plays at Cortland on Friday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m.
