Patchogue, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz opened up its 2024-25 campaign Saturday against hosting St. Joseph's-Long Island and fell, 66-65.
 
Madison Mullman and Julia Sabatino provided most of the offense combining for 24 points, but the Hawks' biggest struggles came from behind the arc as they shot just 5-for-22 from 3-point range, just under a 23 percent clip.
 
The Golden Eagles held a one-point lead after the first, 17-16, but SUNY New Paltz came back to take the advantage entering halftime after scoring the last five points in the final minute of the quarter with a made free throw by Karly Wittenbauer pushing the score to 32-29.
 
An offensive rebound and find to Wittenbauer by freshman Sierra Carter gave the Hawks an eight-point lead with seven minutes to go in the third, but the cushion slowly dwindled down the stretch, as St. Joe's went on a 9-0 run to re-take control at 43-38 with three minutes to go. Mullman stalled the momentum, earning an and-1 in the paint off a good look by Morgan Hammell. The graduate student completed the traditional 3-point play following the make at the line to get her team within two.
 
After a defensive stop, Sabatino grabbed the defensive board to end a quick possession by the Golden Eagles. She then pushed and found Hammell at the arc with the senior burying the shot to regain a lead for SUNY New Paltz at 44-43.

The two teams exchanged leads before the Hawks ended the period with six of the last seven points to enter the fourth up, 50-46.
 
SUNY New Paltz led by as many as seven in the fourth thanks to a steal and a fast-break bucket by Hannah Vanderzee. St. Joe's quickly erased the deficit, however, as two made layups followed by a 3-ball, coupled with three straight defensive stops allowed them to tie the score at 61-all with four minutes to go. A steal and fast-break lay-in by Mullman pushed the Hawks back ahead and kept them in front until the final 30 seconds of the game.  
The Golden Eagles forced a turnover on a steal, which led to a foul putting them on the line where they made both attempts to go up by one. SUNY New Paltz had a chance to win on the final possession with Mullman getting a look inside that went just off the rim. Wittenbauer was there on the offensive board but couldn't get the put back to go.
 
St. Joe's out-shot SUNY New Paltz, going 40 percent from the floor, including 58 percent in the fourth quarter. The Hawks shot 34 percent from the floor and 6-for-18 in the final 10 minutes. SUNY New Paltz forced 23 turnovers, playing its signature stymying defense while totaling 16 steals, but also conceded 19 turnovers of its own.
 
Mullman added five rebounds and three steals to her stat line, while Sabatino led all players with a game-high six assists while adding three rebounds and three steals. Hammell finished with nine points, nine rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals. The Hawks also battled foul trouble with starting forward Abby Korzekewinski fouling out two minutes into the fourth after 19 minutes of action, totaling eight points and six rebounds. Sabatino had four, along with Wittenbauer while Hammell, Vanderzee and Carter each had three.
 
SUNY New Paltz resumes play Tuesday, going on the road to face Vassar at 7 p.m.


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