New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz held off visiting SUNY Oswego Tuesday in the Hawk Center, 58-50 to improve to 5-1 in the SUNYAC.
 
The Hawks (10-3 overall) were propelled by its defense, as a strong end to the first half carried them into the third where they played their typical swarming style defensively to hold the Lakers to just 12 made shots in the last three quarters while turning them over 22 times in that span. 
 
SUNY New Paltz ended the first half strong after Oswego took the lead midway through the second quarter. Logan Castiglione found space and hit her attempt behind the arc with Jenny Walton called on the foul for the potential four-point play. The score was tied at 20 followed the ensuing made foul shot. Brianna Fitzgerald forced a turnover two possessions later and found Walton running the floor to give the Hawks back the lead, but Castiglione answered with a make from mid-range before the Lakers took the lead on a made jumper by Zhane Holmes just before the quarter's first timeout midway through.
 
Oswego gave the Hawks two free throws on an off ball foul, putting Semaiah Williams on the line who made both following the timeout to knot the score once again. SUNY New Paltz seemingly regrouped at the break and rattled off an 8-1 run to end the half. Walton got the stretch going, as she stayed aggressive and got to her left, finishing on the driving layup to give her team a 28-26 lead.
 
 
The Lakers got within one at 28-27 with about 2:45 to go, but SUNY New Paltz scored the last six points to earn a 34-27 advantage at the break. Hannah Vanderzee subbed in and provided crucial minutes, coming up with an offensive board and then finding a cutting Abby Korzekwinski for the assist to create a 31-27 cushion. On the defensive end, Vanderzee picked up the steal and the Hawks pushed and found Walton in the corner for a swish from behind the arc. Morgan Hammell helped SUNY gain one last stop of the half, stepping in the lane on a driving Macey Deordio of Oswego and earning the charge.
 
"I think the momentum changer honestly today was charges," Walton said. "We were all playing together, and Morgan took huge charges today. Everything was [about] attempting and that was one of our goals today, so that and just working together on offense. We moved the ball really well. We were getting really open shots and we played really great defense with a lot of steals."  
The Lakers cut into the lead with the opening basket of the third quarter, but another defensive stop shifted the game toward the Hawks, as Hammell stepped in again to earn another charge with Walton taking advantage of the turnover on the opposite end, getting to the foul line to extend the lead back to five and igniting a 6-0 run.
 
Williams gave SUNY New Paltz its largest lead of the game late in the third period, as Hammell found the 6-foot forward on the baseline for the swish on a mid-ranged jumper to create a 43-21 advantage. However, the Lakers sank two baskets in the final 30 seconds to get within single digits entering the fourth.
 
Oswego got as close as four three times down the stretch in the fourth, including in the final minute thanks to made free throws by Sydney Hoefs with the Hawks in the penalty.
 
With time winding down, Oswego was forced to foul and placed Erin Cooney on the foul line and the senior was clutch with two makes from the charity stripe to push the difference to six.
 
SUNY New Paltz clamped down defensively and Walton came up with another steal on an errant pass and took the ball all the way down the floor for the transition bucket to essentially put the game away. Although, just to be sure, she hustled back down the floor and helped trap the Lakers in the corner and forced another steal as the final buzzer sounded to solidify the eight-point win.
 
"I think every team in the SUNYAC we need to force turnovers," Walton said. "I think total we had 19 steals today, so having seven just myself was very nice. It just shows our aggression as a team and when people are pressuring the ball up and we're in the back ready to go it just makes it easier for us to get the steals."
 
The Hawks defense carried them to the win as they forced 31 turnovers off 19 steals as a team, second-most on the year, and kept the Lakers to just 34 percent shooting from the field after allowing them to hit 6-for-11 in the first 10 minutes of play. Although they weren't efficient from the floor, shooting 29 percent from the field and 20 percent from 3-point range, they scored 22 points off turnovers with 14 coming on the break.
 
Walton led all scorers with 25 points, four rebounds and an assist to go along with a career-high seven steals. Fitzgerald followed offensively, registering 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and six steals. Korzekwinski added seven points with a game-high 10 rebounds — five of which came on the offensive end —with two steals.
 
"I think we were able to take advantage really easily because we were moving really well on offense," Walton added. "We were setting up really good screens. My team was setting me up to get open, so it's really helpful when we're all cutting really hard. It makes it easier for me to score."
 
SUNY New Paltz returns to the Hawk Center Friday and Saturday, hosting Potsdam and Plattsburgh, respectively.

Post-Game Featuring Jenny Walton


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