Cortland, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz had a slow start on the road against conference leading SUNY Cortland Friday and compiled with a poor shooting performance couldn't climb out of an early double-digit hole and suffered a 62-46 loss at the hands of the Red Dragons.
 
The Hawks hit just three shots in the first quarter, including 1-11 from 3-point range, while Cortland got out to a hot start and connected on 3-of-6 from behind the arc and 7-of-15 from the floor. The Red Dragons opened up with 7-0 lead and held a 17-5 cushion with nearly four minutes left in the period, but SUNY New Paltz picked up defensively toward the end of the quarter, as they limited the difference to 17-7 entering the second.
 
"It certainly doesn't help to be down 17-5 to start the game and it did set the tone, but I don't know if it was the difference in the game," said Hawks coach Jamie Seward. "I don't know what the reason was for the poor shooting. We got open looks, but not necessarily what we wanted either. We didn't do enough to get them moving and then it often ends up being one and done."
 
SUNY New Paltz continued its stingy play defensively in the following 10 minutes, earning stops on the Red Dragons' first four possessions, including forcing three steals in the stretch. Although the defense was picked up, its offense continued to struggle in a low scoring quarter for both teams. 
The Hawks' first point of the second came midway through the quarter on a made free throw by Brianna Fitzgerald. Graci Serravillo added on a possession later, also driving and getting hit on the way to the basket where she connected on both free throw attempts. Serravillo recorded the first basket of the period for her team, hitting in the paint out of an out of bounds play with less than three minutes to go in the half, but Cortland answered next time down the floor and extended its lead 24-12. Abby Korzekwinski had SUNY New Paltz's second bucket of the period with a nice finish on an up and under move on the block, but the Red Dragons answered once again, this time with a corner 3 by Corinne Miedreich in the final 30 seconds. Maddie Gillis helped trim the deficit to nine with a banked jumper with 5.3 seconds left to move the difference to 27-16 at the half.
 
The Hawks shot 6-for-38 in the first 20 minutes, including 1-for-19 from 3-point range. Serravillo, Gillis and Korzekwisnki each had four points entering the second half to lead the way offensively. But, after giving up 17 points in the first quarter, they held the Red Dragons to 10 in the second with most of their points coming in the final three minutes, as they forced the hosts into 13 first half turnovers.
 
The Red Dragons continued to hold momentum at the start of the second half, scoring four straight points before Fitzgerald connected in the paint for SUNY New Paltz's first points of the period. Cortland, like it had all game, answered every time the Hawks found the bottom of the hoop, however, and maintained the large cushion throughout the rest of the contest.  
 
The hosts fattened their cushion to 18 following back-to-back 3's to push the score, 44-26 with three minutes left in the third and ultimately entered the fourth with an 18-point lead after trading baskets. Cortland was ahead by as many as 20 early, but a couple made shots from the perimeter by Julia Sabatino and Jenny Walton helped trim the lead as close as 16 mid-way through the fourth but that was the closest the Hawks got.
 
"I'd like to see them take more pride in knowing the scout for one and at least trying to execute it," Seward said. "Same for the game plan and adjustments during the game. I would like to see them care more about what we are asking them to do. Some of the things we do on defense just aren't going to work at this level and we haven't yet made those corrections 17 games in, so obviously I have to be more clear about what I'm looking for and do a better job holding them accountable."
 
SUNY New Paltz ultimately finished 17-for-70, including 7-for-33 from 3-point range. The Red Dragons held the advantage in rebounds (49-39) and although they turned the ball over 21 times to just 11 by the Hawks, their hot shooting from 3-point range (12-for-23) helped secure the double-digit outcome.
 
Gillis had a team-high 10 points in 19 minutes off the bench, while Serravillo followed with nine points in 21 minutes. Korzekwinski chipped in with seven points and six rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench.
 
SUNY New Paltz will look to rebound Saturday against Oswego. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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