Box Score New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team was only about half an inch away from claiming its second SUNYAC victory of the season Saturday. But in the final seconds, down by two, Rachel Simon's corner 3-pointer that looked destined to end up at the bottom of the hoop hit off the far rim and out of play, finalizing the 54-52 outcome.
 
"We definitely showed a little more fight than we have," said Hawks coach Jamie Seward. "We defended better. We tried some new things… but unfortunately in the end of the third, beginning of the fourth there was a chance to maybe make a next run and take full control of the game… just gave up a couple key offensive rebounds and I think that ultimately was probably where they won the game."
 
SUNY New Paltz (3-4 overall, 1-2 SUNYAC) had a poor shooting first quarter, knocking down just 3-of-16 attempts, which allowed the Red Dragons (6-2 overall, 2-1 SUNYAC) to get out to a 16-9 advantage after the first 10 minutes.
 
However, the Hawks set the tone right off the opening second quarter whistle, working the ball inside, which quickly resulted in a Brianna Alberga put-back. The ball went back to Alberga — who finished with seven points, four rebounds, a block and a steal — on the next play, and continued getting opportunities inside, which upped their shooting percentage to 35 percent in the second quarter.

It seemed as though SUNY New Paltz captured all the momentum after re-taking the lead in the third quarter, especially after Lindsay Bettke knocked down a corner 3 with time expiring in the period. But Oneonta responded with an 8-0 run to start the fourth, which allowed the Red Dragons to get back on top, 43-42 with about eight minutes to go in the game.
 
"I think it was a couple plays at the end of the third," said Seward on the difference in the game. "They got it back to three before Lindsay makes that shot at the end of the third and then again in the beginning of the third quarter. They had those two runs where they made a couple plays and that got them back in the game and ultimately made a couple shots late to win the game."
 
The score was tied three times in the fourth quarter, including at 51 with 2 minutes, 38 seconds remaining following a Van Pelt lay-up, but Oneonta then re-gained control for good with just more than two minutes remaining after Teresa Anken's 3-pointer.
 
Van Pelt went back to the foul line a minute later and cut the deficit, 54-52, after making the back end of a pair of free throws.
 
With 6.4 seconds remaining, Seward called a timeout with the Hawks owing possession underneath their basket. Marion Dietz in-bounded and SUNY New Paltz found the hands of Bettke, who drove and kicked the ball out to Simon in the corner for 3, but her shot had a little too much on it, hitting the back of the rim as the buzzer sounded.
 
"We had a bunch of options built into it and if we didn't get anything off the in-bounds then we wanted to get it to Lindsay's hands, go set her a high ball screen and let her make a play," said Seward on the game's final play. "She got deep enough to create some help and got a kick, and we'll take that. I like that shot, Rachel shooting to win the game. I'll take that every night, just happened that it didn't go in tonight."
 
Van Pelt led all scorers with 18 points, while also pulling down 12 rebounds to notch a double-double on the night. Simon followed with 13 points on 4-for-10 shooting from the field, including 3-of-7 from 3. She also tallied five rebounds — four on the offensive glass — two assists and a steal, while Bettke added eight points, four rebounds, three assists and steal.
 
"We just came up a little short," Seward said. "Unfortunately the ball doesn't bounce your way, but we had to take advantage of those opportunities we had earlier in the game to push it to a double-digit lead by making a couple shots and taking full control and full advantage of the momentum that we had at that point."
 
The Hawks have nearly a three-week break before their back in action Dec. 30 and 31 at the Westfield State Tournament. For live updates, recaps, photos, video and more, be sure to follow @nphawks on Twitter and @newpaltzhawks on Instagram and Facebook.