New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz earned at 74-60 win over visiting Plattsburgh Saturday to improve to 3-0 in SUNYAC play.
 
Like they had Friday night against Potsdam, the Hawks (6-3 overall, 3-0 SUNYAC) had a quick start Saturday afternoon against the Cardinals. Within the first two minutes, SUNY New Paltz worked an 8-0 run, getting inside the paint on all four baskets, first by Abby Korzekwinski then Brianna Fitzgerald, before Korzekwinski scored another in the lane with Lexi Van Vorst capping the run following a steal by Korzekwinski on the defensive end, leading to an early timeout by Plattsburgh. The Hawks went cold following the stoppage of play and were without a basket until the five-minute mark before Van Vorst broke up the stretch with a made jumper on a kick-out by Fitzgerald that brought the score to 11-2.
 
SUNY New Paltz carried the momentum until the end of the period, holding a 20-12 advantage after seeing its largest lead balloon to 10 following a made 3 by Madison Mullman.
 
After the Cardinals brought the difference down to seven midway through the second, Korzekwinski helped the Hawks bring the lead back to double-figures before the break, getting her shot to go in the paint in the final 20 seconds before making 1-of-2 from the foul line to get the score to 34-23.
 
 
"We definitely need to finish plays — we play really well for a whole 28 seconds and then we give up an easy shot at the end or we don't secure a rebound and let them get an offensive board," Fitzgerald said. "Today specifically they killed us on the glass. They were a little bit tougher than us going to the basket and that's something that we never accept. I think we need to clean that up going forward."
 
SUNY New Paltz established a 20-point lead in the third quarter, starting off the half with a steal by Jenny Walton with Cassidy Deaver the beneficiary, as she finished the basket in transition. Fitzgerald knocked down from 3 two possessions later before the Hawks won the ball back on a steal by Van Vorst who found Walton running the floor to bring the lead to 41-27 with three minutes to play. Maddie Gillis then piggy backed on the run, staying aggressive, attacking the hoop on back-to-back plays before capping the stretch with a swish from the perimeter to give her team a 48-27 advantage with four minutes to go in the period.
 
Plattsburgh got within 15 in the final 30 seconds off an easy transition basket, but Gillis had the last say of the quarter, finishing strong once again around the hoop on a good find by Morgan Hammell to bring the score to 52-35 entering the fourth.  
The Cardinals had their strongest quarter in the final 10 minutes and worked the difference to single digits down the stretch as they hit 50 percent from the field on 20 attempts. A 6-0 run was ignited by a made 3 from Izzy Wilbury that eventually trimmed the score to 64-58 with just less than two minutes left, but Hawks coach Jamie Seward re-entered Fitzgerald and the reigning Region III Rookie of the Year made an immediate impact to end the stretch for Plattsburgh. Fitzgerald connected in the paint on the very next possession, earning the and-1 on the play to re-up the 11-point lead. Gabby Palladino then got her layup to go on SUNY New Paltz's ensuing offensive possession, taking the contact and foul to earn a shot at the foul line, which was just off the mark but hit off a Cardinal and out of play to keep Hawks possession. Walton attempted a shot off the inbound, but hit just off the rim, however, Fitzgerald was there for her third offensive board of the game, leading to a foul on Plattsburgh that put Van Vorst on the free throw line in the final seconds to seal the win.
 
"With rebounds, it's just kind of don't let the play die," Fitzgerald said. "I know when a shot goes up, I'm going to get it and I tell myself, 'this is me right here.' So, I kind of do anything I can. You've got to jump and go get it and be tough in there. It's not just going to come bounce to you, so you have to go get it."
 
Fitzgerald had her best game of the season, finishing with a double-double, having a game-high in points (16), rebounds (12) and assists (5), while adding three steals in 28 minutes.
 
Gillis followed offensively with 15 points, three rebounds, two assists and a block in 23 minutes off the bench. Korzekwinski added 11 points and four rebounds with a block and a steal. Deaver registered seven points, five rebounds and an assist, while Walton added seven points, three rebounds, three steals and an assist.
 
As a team, SUNY New Paltz shot just above 40 percent from the field with 36 points in the paint and registered 70-plus points for the second-straight game as its sees its offense continuing to improve as it heads into its second SUNYAC weekend next Friday and Saturday.
 
"Yesterday, 26 of our 28 buckets were assisted so that just shows that we're moving the ball well. We are finding each other in the open area," Fitzgerald said. "We're not taking shots we don't want to take. We're not settling, we're getting the best shots possible."
 
The Hawks are back in action next weekend when they go on the road to face Fredonia and Buffalo State Dec. 9 and 10, respectively.

Post-Game interview featuring Brianna Fitzgerald

********************
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.