Fredonia, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz went on the road and held off Fredonia, 78-70 to improve to 4-1 in the SUNYAC and 9-3 overall on the year.
 
The Hawks fell behind with three minutes to go in the first quarter after a made basket by the Blue Devils' Payton Gilbert, but SUNY New Paltz responded with a 7-0 run to end the period thanks to baskets by Jenny Walton, Morgan Hammell and Abby Korzekwinski to give the Hawks a 19-13 lead entering the second period.
 
SUNY New Paltz built off the momentum of the first quarter run and established a 12-point cushion midway through the quarter thanks to a made jumper by Brianna Fitzgerald. Fredonia cut the difference to seven, but once again, the Hawks ended the period strong with Walton knocking down five-straight points to re-build the 12-point lead. The Blue Devils' Grace Alexander got to the foul line to earn two points in the final seconds to trim the Hawks lead to 48-38 at the break.
 
SUNY New Paltz maintained the double-digit advantage throughout the third quarter, but the Blue Devils slowly chipped away at the lead and got within four with five minutes left in the game. Both teams went scoreless until Fredonia's Mayr Culeton hit for two to bring the score to 69-67 with 2:30 to go. Walton answered though, taking contact and hitting for the traditional three-point play, finishing with her left and extending the score to 72-67 after the made free throw.
 
Korzekwinski added onto the run, finishing on a made basket in the paint following a defensive stop to extend the difference to seven. The Hawks made another defensive stand, forcing Fredonia to foul as the game got under a minute left. Julia Sabatino made two from the charity stripe, but the Blue Devils gained some life after earning three on a foul from the perimeter with Grace Alexander making all three to create a six-point game. Fitzgerald was placed on the foul line with less than 20 seconds left and made both to put the game away for the eight-point win.
 
Fitzgerald, Korzekwinski and Walton all finished in double-figures with Fitzgerald leading the team with 22 points and 10 rebounds, recording her fith double-double on the season with a team-leading four steals, with two blocks and one assist. Korzekwinski finished with a season-high 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting with five rebounds, an assist and two steals. Walton recorded 17 points with nine rebounds, one block and one steal.
 
SUNY New Paltz returns home Tuesday to host SUNY Oswego in the Hawk Center at 5:30 p.m. The Hawks' originally scheduled game at Buffalo State was postponed due to weather.

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