Box Score Cortland, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team collected its 15th-straight win Tuesday in its road finale against SUNY Cortland and officially clinched the top-seed in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Tournament after rolling to a 81-57 victory.
 
The No. 25 nationally ranked Hawks (19-4 overall, 15-1 SUNYAC) had a dominating team victory with 10 different players contributing with at least one point, while Lindsay Bettke, Rachel Simon and Marion Dietz all finished in double-figure points for SUNY New Paltz
 
"Our bench had been struggling a bit, but the last three games they've played some extended minutes and have done a really nice job," said Hawks coach Jamie Seward. "It only gets tougher and tougher at this point in the season, so we definitely need all hands on deck."
Just four points separated the two teams in the first season matchup in the Hawk Center, with SUNY New Paltz coming out on top. Tuesday started out with a tight first quarter, as the Hawks held a slight 17-15 lead into the second period, but SUNY New Paltz took over in the following 10 minutes.
 
"Our players did a really nice job of understanding the game plan, consistently focusing on that plan and executing it," said Seward. 
 
Philesha Teape helped facilitate a 15-0 run early in the second, which helped establish SUNY New Paltz a lofty, 17-point cushion with about three minutes remaining before the break.
 
The Hawks continued to further extend their advantage in the second half. They held the Red Dragons (12-11, 8-9) to just seven points in the third period, while limiting them to just 18 percent shooting from the field on 2-for-11 shooting.
 
SUNY New Paltz saw its lead balloon to as many as 31 early in the fourth quarter and ultimately finished with one of its most efficient shooting nights of the season, making nearly 55 percent from the field, including about 44 percent from 3-point range.
 
Bettke and Simon led the Hawks with a game-high 15 points apiece with Bettke adding three rebounds, an assist and a steal in 29 minutes, while Simon finished with two rebounds, two assists and a steal in 26 minutes.
 
Dietz ended the night with 13 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals in 35 minutes, while Teape had one of her best all-around games in her career. The 5'10 junior was aggressive on both ends of the floor and finished the game with nine points, five rebounds and an assist in 17 minutes off the bench.
 
"Phil played very well tonight," Seward said. "She played defense without fouling and she played with poise on offense. When she does those things, it allows her natural ability to come out. She's such a hard worker, so no one deserves it more."
 
The Hawks finish the regular season this weekend, as they take on SUNY Potsdam Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Plattsburgh State Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Hawk Center. SUNY New Paltz will honor its three seniors, Bettke, Simon and Taylor Howell Saturday in a pre-game ceremony.

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