New Paltz, NY — With two games left in the regular season, No. 25 nationally ranked State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball already clinched the top seed in the conference tournament, but the importance of its matchups against SUNY Potsdam and Plattsburgh State this weekend has not diminished.
 
"Every game is so important, especially coming into the last few games," said Hawks junior forward Paige Niemeyer. "It kind of prepares us for future games, and we always talk about playing that nameless, faceless opponent later in the season, so every game is important to prepare for that. Every chance we get to play, I mean it's fun and it's coming to a close, so we have cherish every chance we get."
 
SUNY New Paltz (19-4 overall, 15-1 SUNYAC) has won its last 15 games and go into the weekend with just one State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) loss. Although the first seed and playoff hopes are already clinched for the Hawks, they realize the importance of ending the regular season with two more victories. If they do achieve their 16th and 17th-straight win, they would set a program record for the best conference mark in team history at 17-1. 
 
More importantly, SUNY New Paltz wants to head into the postseason with momentum it has carried during its winning streak, while also giving its three pivotal seniors, Lindsay Bettke, Taylor Howell and Rachel Simon two last conference wins at home.
 
"It's senior night, so it means everything," Niemeyer said. "You know, I've played with them now for three years. So we've bonded, we've formed a relationship and just to give them that, that last league game and give them that win — those two wins actually this weekend — it means a lot to us to give to them and it means a lot for them to go out with a bang."

Bettke and Howell, already the winningest players in program history with 77 victories and counting, have already won two SUNYAC Championships and helped the Hawks to a NCAA Sweet 16 run in 2016. Simon, in her short time with SUNY New Paltz, transferring from Caldwell University last season, was named First-Team All-SUNYAC last year and currently sits second in the league in scoring, while is 42 points shy of breaking the Hawks' single-season record.
 
"What don't they bring to this team?" said Niemeyer. "They bring so much energy. I can trust them with the ball and I can trust them to be calm. If I'm frantic, I know they have the experience and the wisdom, I guess you can say, to be calm and be poised. They're such great role models for everyone on this team. We were together all season last year and this team has just been brought up from last year, so they just bring everything."

SUNY New Paltz will take on two teams who are fighting for a playoff spot. The Bears (8-14, 5-11) have lost three of their last four games, but their postseason aspirations are still alive two games back from the last spot.
As a team, SUNY Potsdam has averaged 61 points per game, while giving up 67 points against. Freshman forward Devyn Elliott leads the Bears offensively, averaging about 17 points per game on 48 percent shooting for the season, while averaging about eight rebounds a contest. 
 
The Cardinals (10-13, 7-9) have a better chance to make the SUNYAC Tournament, as they have won two straight after going on a four-game losing skid. They've beat SUNY Cortland and Oswego State, 71-58 and 83-76 in overtime, respectively, in their last two games.
 
On the year, Plattsburgh State averages about 62 points a contest, while yielding 66 points per game. Junior guard Taylor Durnin leads the team with 15.6 points and four rebounds per game, while shooting about 38 percent from the floor. 
 
The Hawks defeated both teams by double-digits early in the year, earning 82-54 and 69-50 wins over SUNY Potsdam and Plattsburgh State, respectively.
 
SUNY New Paltz is set to take on the Bears Friday at 5:30, which will also stand as a "Green Out" game to raise awareness for mental health. Spectators are asked to wear green to support the cause. At halftime the Hawks field hockey and tennis programs will also be honored for their SUNYAC Championship victories this past fall.
 
Saturday's contest is set for 2 p.m. against the Cardinals in the Hawk Center, with SUNY New Paltz honoring its three seniors in a small ceremony pre-game.

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