Box Score New Paltz, NY – The State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team collected its 10th-straight win in dominating fashion Tuesday, defeating visiting Oswego State, 79-45.
 
"I think we did a good job taking care of a team that we were better than the right way," said Hawks coach Jamie Seward. "We got on them early, opened up a lead and never really gave them any life at all. We continued to extend that lead, defended pretty well and we attacked the basket pretty well early on and I think we're doing a better job of that overall, and that has opened up everything else overall. When you can attack the basket like that, get to the free throw line and get some easy baskets in the paint, that is obviously a tremendous compliment to the perimeter shooting that we have. That is something that in the last few games we have done a better job of, being more aggressive attacking the basket."

SUNY New Paltz (14-4 overall, 10-1 SUNYAC) let its defense dictate its offense early on, as it opened up in a full court press and forced the Lakers (2-17, 1-11) to speed up their play, forcing them into early mistakes. Oswego turned the ball over 20 times in the first half with the Hawks taking advantage with 17 points off those miscues. They also allowed just seven made baskets within the first 20 minutes and limited the Lakers to just 33 percent shooting from the field.
 
"We wanted to make them uncomfortable. We wanted to pressure them," Seward said. "They have some good size and they have some kids that can score in the paint, so we wanted to keep them out of there and a big part of that is pressuring the ball handlers. Whether it be in the full court or the half court, and not giving them any easy opportunities to scope out where they want to go with the ball and throw it there. I think we did a pretty good job of that overall."
 
The Hawks quickly built a 20-point lead after taking a 15-point cushion into the second quarter. Rachel Simon was the catalyst in the early run, as she out-scored Oswego by herself in the first half, netting 20 first-half points in just 12 minutes of action, while the Lakers scored just 18. Simon nearly matched her career-high on the night, totaling 28 points on an efficient 10-for-14 shooting from the field, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range in just 21 minutes.
 
"I go out there and shoot the ball. That is my job. Go out there and play a complete game and throw up shots," Simon said. "That's what I do. That's what Lindsay [Bettke] does. That's what Marion [Dietz] does. Our job is to get in there and score. So, it feels good. I know what I am capable of and it feels good to take it at them."
 
SUNY New Paltz continued to roll in the second half, holding the Lakers to just 10 third-quarter points, while extending its lead to a game-high 41.
 
"Our defense is something that we pride ourselves on and it leads to our offense. So, when we don't have a good offensive game, we have to make sure we're having a good defensive game," Simon said. "If we get stops, we can win any game that we go in to. Taking advantage on the defensive end is the biggest part of our game right now."
 
Oswego continued playing hard and out-scored the Hawks 17-11 in the fourth quarter, but the game was already out of reach to mount any type of comeback. 
 
SUNY New Paltz totaled 29 points from its bench with Taylor Howell leading the way with 11 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the field, while Nicole Ziogas followed with eight points.
 
Seward was pleased with the way his team played through three quarters, but was disappointed with a lackluster fourth period. With seven games remaining in their regular season schedule, the Hawks continue to emphasize the importance of playing a full game without a letdown in hopes of securing their third conference championship in four years.
 
"They did a good job in the first half, but not a very good job in the fourth quarter. At all," Seward said. "They really took it to us and attacked the basket in the fourth quarter. We were a little disappointed, because we were really trying to focus in on playing a complete game. Not taking any possessions off, not taking any plays off within a possession, and we weren't able to accomplish that in the fourth quarter."
 
With a big weekend ahead against The College at Brockport and defending conference champion SUNY Geneseo, the Hawks have the opportunity to gain an even tighter grasp of the No. 1 seed in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) tournament. The Hawks are currently at the top of the conference, with the Knights sitting a game behind in second.  

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