Box Score New Paltz, NY – The State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team collected its 13th-straight win Friday night, handily defeating visiting Buffalo State, 73-45.

The Hawks (17-4 overall, 13-1 SUNYAC) dominated defensively from the opening tip, forcing 12 first half turnovers and ultimately caused 19 in the game. However, they struggled to finish around the rim in the first quarter, unable to capitalize from their defensive efforts and trailed, 15-13 after the first 10 minutes.

"We didn't seem to have that energy or intensity or whatever tonight," said SUNY New Paltz coach Jamie Seward. "Something was definitely missing. We executed the defensive game plan well at times, but then we did some odd things out there as well. We left too many shooters open, particularly in transition on plays that weren't even fast pushes." 

The second quarter was the difference in the game, however, as the Hawks out-scored the Bengals (11-12, 5-11) 27-3 in the period, limiting them to just 10 percent shooting from the field on 10 attempts. In turn, SUNY New Paltz found its stroke and made 10-of-19 from the floor to help facilitate a 19-0 run to start the quarter.

Rachel Simon was a big part of the run, scoring 12 first-half points for the Hawks after shooting 5-for-12 before the break. However, it was Lindsay Bettke who put the exclamation point on the quarter, as she finished an and-one deep in the shot clock midway through the period to push the cushion into double-figures, which SUNY New Paltz kept the rest of the way after going into the half touting a 40-18 lead.

The Hawks' largest lead ballooned to 30 early in the fourth quarter on a layup in the paint by Philesha Teape. Teape had one of her best games of her career, totaling a career-high 13 points off the bench and was just a rebound shy of a double-double, finishing with nine.

Teape, Nicole Ziogas, Kei-Kei Glover and Taylor Howell provided critical minutes off the bench, as the quartet helped total 43 points off the bench for the Hawks.

Simon ultimately finished with a game-high 18 points in 23 minutes to go along with three steals, while Dietz, who finished with five points, four rebounds, one assist and a steal, was key defensively in limiting Bengals leading scorer Liv LeBaron. LeBaron went into the game leading the league in points, while averaging 20 points per game, but Friday scored just five points and faced early foul trouble. In fact, SUNY New Paltz didn't allow a single Buffalo State player more than nine points on the night.

"Great individual effort by Marion defending LeBaron and a good job by Nicole as well when she was on her," Seward said. "Our bench really got us going in the first half. Nicole, Phil and Keiks, they gave us a big shot in the arm after a slow start."

Howell and Ziogas each added 11 points apiece with the latter also pulling down six boards on the night.

The Hawks are back in action Saturday, as they take on Fredonia State at 2 p.m. in the Hawk Center. To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on Twitter at @nphawks,Instagram and Facebook at @newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our Youtube channel, New Paltz Hawks.