Box Score New Paltz, NY — Led by its two freshmen off the bench, the State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team defeated visiting Buffalo State Friday in the Hawk Center, 69-53.
 
"Right now we know that every win counts and every win really matters," said Hawks freshman Nicole Ziogas. "It's end of the season. It is grind-time and we have to go in thinking that every game is a championship game."
 
Although the night ended in double-digit fashion in favor of SUNY New Paltz (9-6 overall, 5-4 SUNYAC), the Hawks got out to a rough first quarter start and was unable to find the bottom of the hoop.
 
Amanda Skopetos hit SUNY New Paltz's first basket of the game with just more than a minute left in the first period, but once the first shot went in the Hawks started to roll.
 
An 8-0 run cut the deficit to one with 16 seconds remaining, as Skopetos capped the surge with her first 3-pointer of the day. Liv LeBaron countered for the Bengals (7-9, 4-6), however, as time expired to bring her team's lead back to four entering the following quarter.
 
But after making just 2-of-15 from the floor in the first 10 minutes, SUNY New Paltz found its shooting touch in the following period and knocked down 9-of-15, including four from behind the arc.
 
Lindsay Bettke ended a hot second quarter for the Hawks by swishing a 3 from the corner with 10 seconds remaining, capping off a 13-2 run to give her team the 32-21 advantage at the half and SUNY New Paltz took that momentum into the third quarter, ballooning its lead to 16 entring the final period.
 
But in the fourth quarter, Bettke, the Hawks' junior captain went down with an ankle injury and without her leadership on the floor, the game started getting a little tighter down the stretch.
 
Sandi Harris gave SUNY New Paltz is largest lead at 19 after knocking down a 3 early in the quarter, but the Bengals worked themselves back to get within 10 with about three minutes left in the game.
 
"I think we got away, both offensively and defensively, from what was working," said SUNY New Paltz coach Jamie Seward. "I think some of that is immaturity and lack of experience with some of the players we had out there, especially for long stretches. But they also did a nice job of making some nice plays too. So it is a fine line of being too passive and too aggressive in the way they like to play and the way the game was officiated it got a little bit too chaotic instead of us just sticking with what worked with this particular opponent."
 
But, the Hawks settled down and saw their freshman step up. Demi Herasme (8 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists) and Zigoas each hit key baskets down the stretch to keep Buffalo State at arms-length away.
 
Skopetos, meanwhile, piled up season-highs in nearly every category to help seal the win in a breakout performance. The freshman forward totaled personal-best numbers in points (14) — which was also a team-high on the night — minutes (26), rebounds (5) and steals (2), while shooting a season-high 5-of-7 from the field.
 
"Amanda is a really, really talented player on an offensive stand point," Seward said. "I think it's just taken her awhile to figure some things out defensively and she started to get that. I think when you're struggling, no matter where it is, it hurts your confidence and she's really come on the last few weeks."
 
Ziogas was not far behind, tallying 12 points, four assists and two blocks on 5-for-11 shooting from the field in 25 minutes play, which were all season-high's for the New Rochelle native.
 
"For Nicole it is just about being more aggressive. She's smart and almost always does the right thing in the right spot, almost similar to Marion [Dietz]," Seward said. "She's just still passive because she is afraid to make a mistake and tonight she just let it fly… I'd rather have her do the wrong thing decisively and aggressively than play passive and she did that.
 
"[Skopetos and Ziogas] are both coming along and that is a nice shot in the arm for us as we get down the stretch at the end of the season."
 
Rachel Simon added 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while hitting some vital free throws in the fourth to keep the Hawks in front. Defensively, SUNY New Paltz caused 18 turnovers and held the Bengals to just 29 percent shooting, including 27 percent from the perimeter.
 
"Our came plan was to really get out on their 3-point shooters and get to the glass," Ziogas said. "We did a pretty good job, but I think we could have done a better job of stopping them from getting offensive rebounds, but I still think we did a solid job.
 
SUNY New Paltz is hoping to take its momentum into Saturday and get a weekend sweep when it hosts Fredonia State in the Hawk Center at 1 p.m. Be sure to follow @nphawks on Twitter and @newpaltzhawks on Instagram and Facebook for live updates, highlights, game recaps and more!