New Paltz, NY — With last season's loss to visiting Vassar in the back of its minds Tuesday night, the State University of New York at New Paltz entered the matchup as if it was a postseason NCAA Tournament game.
 
The Hawks (2-0 overall) limited a high-powered shooting offense to just 37 percent from the field and 33 percent from the perimeter with a standout defensive performance and came away with some redemption and a statement victory, defeating the Brewers, 70-62 in the Hawk Center.
 
"Going into this, coach said we're going to treat this like an NCAA Tournament game, and I think we did just that," said SUNY New Paltz senior guard Brianna Fitzgerald. "Especially from our first game, I think every single person elevated their focus, attention to detail, attention to the scout and I think we really went out there and executed a game plan."
 
Fitzgerald was the catalyst offensively for her team, recording her second-career 30-point outing after tying a career-high 31 points to go along with 12 rebounds, four blocks, three assists and two steals while hitting 11-for-14 from the foul line and shooting 43 percent on the night. She became the first Hawk in program history to record two 30-point games in their career with the total tying for fifth most in SUNY New Paltz women's basketball history.
 
"I think it was a little bit easier for me to drive and get to the hoop today," Fitzgerald said. "We were really trying to look for those mismatches, trying to see who's open, where to get the ball so I can attack. I think a lot of people — Jenny [Walton] fed me some great passes, Julia [Sabatino], Morgan [Hammell]. We ran our offense really well today and I'm just trying to keep moving and get some shots up."
 
 
After a one-point loss a season ago, the Hawks came out tough in the first quarter and took the lead two minutes into the game on a make in the paint by Jenny Walton and never trailed the rest of the way. Fitzgerald immediately added on in transition following a steal by Julia Sabatino who picked a pass in the halfcourt. SUNY New Paltz controlled most of the first quarter as it shot a productive 7-for-14 from the floor and owned a 15-7 cushion with about two minutes remaining in the period after Walton knocked down a 3-pointer.
 
Offensive rebounding allowed the Brewers to creep back within two, but the Hawks worked the ball around in the final seconds and found Erin Cooney in the corner who got a soft bounce off the rim that dropped for a trey to push the lead to 17-12 entering the second.  
The Brewers worked back within one early in the second, but Walton answered with a corner 3 to boost the lead to four. Defensive pressure allowed SUNY New Paltz to create a mini run in the following two minutes, started on a steal by Sabatino thanks to Walton who got a tip on a pass in the paint that led to a fastbreak bucket by Sabatino. Next time down the floor, the Hawks tightened up again and earned a stop after forcing a bad shot in the lane and quickly pushed up the floor leading to a nice left-handed floater by Morgan Hammell to extend the advantage to eight.
 
Fitzgerald gave SUNY New Paltz its first double-figure lead of the night after making plays on both ends of the court. First with a block on Vassar's Sierra McDermed driving through the paint, then earning a trip to the foul line as Hammell picked up the loose ball and found Fitzgerald running the floor.

The Brewers brought the difference down to five with less than two minutes remaining in the half, but the Hawks forced two stops defensively in the last pair of Vassar possessions which turned into points. Fitzgerald connected again in transition and then with SUNY New Paltz waning down the clock for the final shot of the half, the Hawks found Fitzgerald again, this time posting up on the block as she added two more in the final seconds before the break. 
  SUNY New Paltz did a good job of holding Vassar at arm's length to start the third quarter with the Brewers not getting closer than seven throughout the period. The Hawks defense continued to play stingy and limited Vassar to just 7-for-18 shooting from the floor and only 1-for-4 from the arc. Another steal by Sabatino, snatching the ball from the hands of the Brewers' Maddie Ahern underneath the basket, led to a fast-break bucket by Korzekwinski on a nice bounce pass by Fitzgerald. Vassar answered with a jumper next time down the floor, but both teams struggled to register points in the final two minutes allowing SUNY New Paltz to maintain the double-digit cushion before adding two more on a put-back on her own shot from Fitzgerald as the third quarter buzzer sounded.
 
The Hawks kept the game in hand in the final 10 minutes, although the Brewers made the end interesting as they hit a 3-pointer with 1:05 left to trim the difference to eight but Fitzgerald and Korzekwinski each earned trips to the foul line and made a combined 3-for-5 to flex another 11-point lead.
 
Vassar got to the foul line with 40.4 seconds remaining and a turnover on the next possession by SUNY New Paltz revived some hope for the visitors as it hit a quick 3-pointer to bring the score to 68-62 with 22.2 left. The Brewers opted not to foul and in turn, Fitzgerald went the length of the floor and scored, all but sealing the win.
 
Overall, the Hawks allowed Vassar to shoot just 36.7 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent (5-for-15) from 3-point range and forced 24 turnovers on 14 steals. However, SUNY New Paltz wasn't too far behind in the turnover battle, suffering 23 on the night while shooting 38.8 percent from the field and 15.4 percent (2-for-13) from the arc, along with going 16-for-24 from the foul line. More than half of its points came in the paint, scoring 44 underneath the basket with 16 coming in transition and 17 off turnovers.
 
"I'm just so proud of this team right from the jump," Fitzgerald said. "We attacked them. We swarmed them, we knew who the shooters were. We really paid attention to the scout, especially Julia she was just all over the floor today. We were looking for those traps. We figured out who their ball handlers were early, and we shut them down right from the jump… it was such a great defensive game for us."
 
Walton followed Fitzgerald offensively with 17 points (7-for-23) with five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Sabatino had a stellar defensive night and also contributed with 10 points, eight rebounds and team-highs in assists (5) and steals (4) to go along with two blocks.
 
SUNY New Paltz resumes play Nov. 21 in the Hawk Center when it hosts Mount Saint Mary College at 6 p.m.

Post-Game Featuring Brianna Fitzgerald


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