Las Vegas, NV — The State University of New York New Paltz closed out the D3Hoops Holiday Classic Monday at South Point Arena in a back-and-forth matchup against Colorado College.
 
The Hawks caused chaos with their signature full court pressure, forcing the Tigers into 27 turnovers but an uneven game called in the book with SUNY New Paltz suffering 25 fouls to Colorado College's nine, allowed the Tigers to get to the foul line where they made 20-for-21 which helped in the difference of a 76-61 loss for the Hawks.
 
SUNY New Paltz had great production off the bench from Madison Mullman and Karly Wittenbauer combining for 18 points while Morgan Hammell and Grace Cozzens provided needed relief and fought hard defensively. Mullman put an exclamation point in an electric final minute of the first quarter for the Hawks.
 
Trailing by five with about 90 seconds to go, Abby Korzekwinski and Hammell provided pressure on an early double as soon as the Tigers crossed the ball passed midcourt, leading to a bad pass and easy steal for Sierra Carter who cut off the attempt and went coast-to-coast for an open layup to trim the score, 10-7. Colorado College answered with an and-1, but Julia Sabatino answered as she connected on a floater in the lane off an assist from Hammell.
 
SUNY New Paltz earned a stop next time down with Korzekwinski running the floor, nearly getting her shot to go as it rimmed out but added a make from the foul line to get her team within three with 33 seconds left. Sabatino then swarmed the Tigers point guard as soon as she touched the ball on the ensuing inbound with the Hawks doing a good job switching and doubling once again in the halfcourt and forced an errant pass out of bounds to gain the final possession of the period with eight seconds left. They made the most out of the opportunity, as Mullman took a handoff with Wittenbauer setting a screen to create some space. Mullman pulled up and knocked down from beyond the arc, knotting the score at 13-all and swinging momentum toward her side.
 
 
Korzekwinski hit in the paint to give SUNY New Paltz the first lead of the game in the opening seconds of the second quarter. The lead changed hands three times before Colorado College established a nine-point lead following a 7-0 run midway through the quarter, capped by back-to-back steals leading to baskets. Carter broke up the run with a made mid-ranged jumper before Sophia Bonnell cut the score, 32-28 with just less than four minutes to go. Sabatino came up with the hustle play on the offensive board and kick-out to the corner to Bonnell for 3.  
The Tigers then went on an 8-3 run to end the half, producing six of their points from the foul line in the stretch. Bonnell hit again from 3-point range to put some points on the board for the Hawks before the half with Colorado College going into the break up 40-31.  
SUNY New Paltz came into the third quarter hot, pressing and creating havoc for the Tigers in the backcourt. It forced three-straight turnovers leading to points to trim the difference down to two. Mullman swished from 3-point range off a dish by Sabatino following a lost ball by Colorado College. Wittenbauer then pressured and forced a turnover on a steal before finding Hannah Vanderzee for two in the paint.
 
The Tigers answered from 3, but again a turnover ensued on their next offensive possession unable to figure out an answer for the Hawks' pressure. SUNY New Paltz capitalized with another two points by Vanderzee in the lane off another find from Wittenbauer. Wittenbauer then ignited the visitors bench, forcing another turnover off a steal before driving, pump-faking and getting her basket to go to trim the lead to 43-42 with about six minutes left. Wittenbauer then tied the score after going up for an offensive rebound before getting hit on the way up to earn two at the foul line where she made one.
 
Vanderzee regained the Hawks lead with about four left in the quarter, grabbing an offensive board off a missed 3 by Sabatino and going up for two. The Tigers responded with a trey, but Sabatino quickly re-upped the advantage, attacking the rim and scoring at the hoop. Following a made free throw, Bonnell connected from the corner from 3 off an assist from Hammell to push SUNY New Paltz up, 52-49 but Colorado College ended the period on a 9-0 run to swing momentum back toward its side.
 
The Hawks had back-to-back offensive fouls called, resulting in turnovers that led to points with the Tigers again getting to the foul line for two more before an offensive put-back capped the stretch to give them a 60-52 advantage entering the fourth.  
Colorado College connected on five quick points and SUNY New Paltz couldn't answer on the offensive end. The Hawks missed their next five shots, while the Tigers scored 10-straight before Mullman hit from 3 to trim the score to 70-57 with about 6:30 left. The score wasn't enough, as Colorado College extended its lead to as many as 17. Wittenbauer scored the last points of the game to bring the game to 76-61 but neither team hit a shot in the last four minutes to solidify the result.
 
The Tigers held the advantage in the paint, pulling down 45 rebounds to the Hawks' 26 while scoring 32 of its points in the lane and 20 more from the charity stripe. SUNY New Paltz shot well from the field, going 40 percent but made 2-for-11 from the foul line.
 
Bonnell led the Hawks with 11 points in 36 minutes, while adding two rebounds and one assist. Korzekwinski, Wittenbauer and Mullman each had nine points, while Sabatino and Vanderzee had eight and Carter seven. Korzekwinski shot 4-for-10 from the field and added a rebound and a steal in just 15 minutes, battling foul trouble early. Sabatino led the team with seven rebounds and seven assists, while Vanderzee added three rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal. Sabatino was named to the D3Hoops Classic All-Tournament Team from her all around performance in both games. 
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Jan. 7, going on the road to face SUNY Oswego at 5:30 p.m. The Hawks go into the matchup at 3-6 overall and 2-0 in the SUNYAC.

View the full D3Hoops Classic All-Tournament Team list by clicking here:

Post-Game Interview with coach Jamie Seward (courtesy of D3hoops.com)


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