Box Score Oswego, NY — In control for two-plus quarters, the State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team had a two minute lapse in the middle of the third period and gave up 15 straight points to allow hosting Oswego State (5-11 overall, 2-7 SUNYAC) to take its first lead of the game.
 
As the quarter concluded, junior guard Lindsay Bettke had a word or two with her teammates and got the message across not to let the game get away. The Hawks (8-6, 4-3) responded with a prolific fourth quarter that propelled a convincing, 57-43, victory and sweep of the Lakers.
 
"I didn't say anything, but Lindsay gave them an earful," SUNY New Paltz coach Jamie Seward said. "She basically said we let them back in it, so now we need to fight."
 
The Hawks held the momentum from the opening tip and never trailed in the first half at any point. Bettke highlighted a successful two quarters by draining a 3 with two seconds to spare before the break and extending SUNY New Paltz's lead to nine.
 
The Hawks' lead ballooned to as many as 13 in the third quarter, however Oswego State climbed back with a 15-0 run, which was capped off by Quincey Zimmerman's jumper to give her team their first lead of the game.  Amanda Skopetos ended the run with a basket to end the quarter and knot the game at 35.
 
The Hawks responded ten-fold in the final 10 minutes. Rachel Simon kicked off the period two seconds in with a 3 to give her team back the lead. Bettke added two more following a steal to extend the cushion and following two free throws by the Lakers to break-up the mini-run, SUNY New Paltz started rolling from there.
 
A 14-0 run helped the Hawks take full control of the game, as they took their largest advantage, 57-39, following a Madison Van Pelt jumper with just less than a minute to go.
 
SUNY New Paltz ultimately held the Lakers to just eight points in the final quarter, and in the game totaled 11 steals and for the second-straight outing caused 20-plus turnovers.
 
"We just had some really poor communication and gave them a couple open 3's, but at least they fought back and didn't become shell-shocked when we gave up the lead," Seward said. "What was the most frustrating is that we defended awfully well for such a long period of time and then a two-minute let down, and all that is for not. But that's basketball, so we need to learn that it takes 40 minutes of high level effort and communication, and nothing else."
 
Bettke led the Hawks with a game-high 12 points, but the Pelham, NY native did a little bit of everything for the Hawks on the day. She padded her stat sheet, making 5-of-15 from the floor to go along with four rebounds, three assists and five steals in 30 minutes of action.
 
Van Pelt and Simon followed with nine points apiece, while also adding six and eight rebounds, respectively.
 
SUNY New Paltz continues SUNYAC play this weekend when it hosts Buffalo State and Fredonia State on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m., respectively. Be sure to follow @nphawks on Twitter and @newpaltzhawks on Instagram and Facebook for live updates, highlights, game recaps and more! Tweet #NPHawks