New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York routed visiting Fredonia State Saturday in the Hawk Center, 69-25.
 
The win kept SUNY New Paltz (16-3 overall, 12-0 SUNYAC) undefeated in the SUNYAC and at the top of the conference standings while pushing coach Jamie Seward to win 298 of his career.
 
The first time the Blue Devils faced the Hawks, they had their most efficient shooting game of the season, making 23-of-50 from the field in an 11-point loss. However, in the series finale on Saturday, SUNY New Paltz finished a stout defensive performance by holding Fredonia to just eight made baskets on 51 attempts, forcing the visitors into a tough shooting night at just 15.7 percent — the worst margin for them on the year.
 
"Today I think we really executed to start the game," said Hawks guard Maddie Gillis. "We got all the looks we wanted and that kind of just led to have an easier game. After the first quarter they switched to zone, so we made sure to execute our zone offense and attacked all the ways we knew."
 
 
The win was never in doubt off the opening tip for SUNY New Paltz. It jumped out to a 13-1 lead midway through the first quarter with Brianna Fitzgerald capping the stretch on a nice move on the block, getting her floater to fall. After the Blue Devils made their first basket of the day, Gillis answered with an and-1 on a left-handed finish that brought the lead to 21-3 with 1:33 left in the half. Gillis connected next time down the floor, hitting from the corner for 3 to extend the cushion, 24-3 at quarter's end.
 
The Hawks continued flexing their cushion in the second, as Fredonia had trouble finding the bottom of the hoop. The Blue Devils scored their second basket of the game on a trey by Amber Louis with six minutes left in the period but SUNY New Paltz countered with 10 straight points to take a 42-6 lead at halftime.  
In the opening 20 minutes, the Hawks held Fredonia to 7.7 percent shooting from the field, forcing 13 turnovers off five steals and out-rebounded the Blue Devils, 26-13.
 
"We were pretty happy with the way we were playing on defense," Gillis said. "We were just trying to keep them in front of us and not let up any 3's. And, not to be particular, but the two baskets we did give up we were upset about — but overall, we were very happy with our defense."
 
The difference soon became more than 50 in the third quarter, as Gabby Palladino scored two with a smooth hook shot in the paint, while Gillis officially pushed her team to 50-plus on an and-1 driving to the hoop that made the score, 57-16 with less than a minute left.
 
The Hawks bench closed out in the fourth quarter, as they flirted with another 50-point margin after a made jumper by Stasia Epler created a 66-17 deficit, but the Blue Devils found the basket three times in the final five minutes to earn some points back in the 69-25 outcome.
 
Fredonia didn't have a scorer with more than six points, while SUNY New Paltz had three in double-figures including 11 apiece by Gillis and fellow senior guard Lexi Van Vorst. Gillis added three rebounds, a block and a steal, while Van Vorst had five rebounds, four assists and a steal. Abby Korzekwinski chipped in with 10 points, six rebounds and an assist.
 
With six regular season games left, the Hawks have a pivotal road trip on the horizon as they face Oswego State and Cortland with No. 1 seeding on the line.
 
"Coming into this weekend, we just wanted to make sure that we executed everything on offense, and we were playing crisp," Gillis said. "We wanted to make sure we were keeping up with our defense like we have been the last couple weekends and we're really excited about coming into this week. We have Oswego/Cortland coming up, so it's always a huge weekend for us."
 
SUNY New Paltz is set to hit the road and face the Lakers Friday at 5:30 p.m. before tipping-off against the Red Dragons Saturday at 2 p.m.

Post-Game Interview with Maddie Gillis

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