After going through a brutal six-game road stretch to end the regular season, the State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team earned one more game in the Hawk Center Tuesday night.

It's been nearly a month since the Hawks (16-9 SUNYAC, 12-6 overall) played on their home floor, but following an impressive final conference weekend, defeating their opposition by a 30-point margin in both outings, SUNY New Paltz clinched the No. 4 seed in the SUNYAC tournament.

"We really needed that weekend," said SUNY New Paltz junior guard Lindsay Bettke. "We went a whole month with just away games. We didn't have any home games, so everyone was really feeling fatigued and just worn out from the traveling the past month. But those games really boosted our confidence in my opinion. We blew out both the teams, so now we're feeling pretty good about ourselves and that earned us a home game this coming Tuesday, really pumped up about that."

The Hawks went 4-2 in a pivotal final three weeks of the regular season, losing to just top-seeded SUNY Geneseo (18-0, 23-2) and No. 5 seed The College at Brockport (10-8, 12-13) -- which they will face once again in the first round Tuesday-- in that stretch.

SUNY New Paltz is looking forward to a redemption game against the Golden Eagles, who had their way with the Hawks in the paint in their most recent matchup on Feb. 10. They out-rebounded SUNY New Paltz 54-37 in the game and forward Lindsay Johnson recorded 24 points and 19 rebounds to lead The College at Brockport to a 70-63 victory.

According to Bettke, the key Tuesday will be limiting Johnson and winning the battle inside.

"The last time we played Brockport we got our butts handed to us, but I think going into this game it is a redemption game," Bettke said. "We're going to come out really aggressive and I think what's going to win it for us is just getting rebounds. Boxing out Lindsay Johnson, that was their key player and they got most of their points [in the paint] and she got most of their rebounds, so I think taking care of her will get the job done."
  The Hawks defeated the Golden Eagles last time they visited the Hawk Center back on Dec. 1. SUNY New Paltz put four players in double-digit points in the game, and also allowed The College at Brockport to shoot just 34 percent from the field in what turned into an 11-point victory.

The winner the third time around will solidify a spot in the SUNYAC semifinal against the tournament host Knights, who the Hawks have yet to beat this year.

However, SUNY New Paltz has seen ample success against SUNY Geneseo in the postseason, defeating the Knights the past two years in the SUNYAC championship game, and last year did it on SUNY Geneseo's home floor, following a 58-57 victory.

"That is definitely one of my favorite memories so far in my career at New Paltz was cutting down their nets," Bettke said. "There is a chance we can see Geneseo on their home court in the semifinals. It would be great to beat them in the semifinals and then play at their gym, playing another team in the finals and cutting down their nets again. That would be a great feeling."

If the Hawks get past the Golden Eagles and then the Knights in the semifinals, they will take on either No. 6 Buffalo State (8-10, 12-13), No. 3 SUNY Cortland (12-6, 15-10) or No. 2 SUNY Oneonta (13-5, 18-7).

The Bengals will visit the Red Dragons Tuesday for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off. SUNY New Paltz swept Buffalo State and split with SUNY Cortland this season. The winner of that game will take on SUNY Oneonta on SUNY Geneseo's floor Friday at 5:30 p.m. The Hawks have had trouble with the Red Dragons this season, losing both games this year.

SUNY New Paltz will play The College at Brockport at 7 p.m. Tuesday, and with a win will then take on SUNY Geneseo on Friday at 7 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday. For updates, scores, recaps and everything #NPHawks, be sure to follow @nphawks on Twitter and @newpaltzhawks on Instagram and Facebook.