New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz earned its third straight win after capturing a 75-48 victory over visiting Buffalo State Saturday in the Hawk Center.
 
The day was highlighted by a triple-double from graduate student Julia Sabatino, as she became just the third player ever to notch the feat joining 1999 alumna Jasmine Sanchez and teammate Brianna Fitzgerald. The latter of which registered double-figures in three categories last year in a win over Brockport. An extra special achievement for Sabatino who joins elite company as well as her best friend in Fitzgerald who she's been playing basketball with since childhood.
 
"It feels great," Sabatino said. "I had no idea I was even close to anything like that. We were just trying to go out there and get stops. That's the ultimate goal is to just win the game, but it's a great feeling knowing one of my best friends has done it too and it's just a really cool thing to have that forever now."
 
Sabatino helped her team get out to a hot start, as the Hawks built an 18-2 cushion after the first quarter and held on from there. Sabtino had two steals, two assists and four rebounds through the 10 minutes including two offensive boards to lead SUNY New Paltz, which rolled off a 14-0 run to end the quarter and boast an 16-point margin with the Bengals only hitting on 1-for-5 from the field in the period.
 
Buffalo State got back into the game in the second, out-scoring most of the Hawks' reserves who entered in the quarter. The Bengals got as close as 20-13 with about four minutes to go in the period, but SUNY New Paltz answered with a 9-0 run to end the half. Abby Korzewkinski was aggressive in the paint, tallying six points in the stretch with Sophia Bonnell knocking down a shot from behind the perimeter to cap the surge.
 
Buffalo State wouldn't go away in the third quarter and got as close as one at 34-33 following back-to-back steals and fast-break buckets midway through the period. Madison Mullman answered for the Hawks, draining an open look from 3-point range off an inbounds play to re-create a four-point advantage. SUNY New Paltz then got a stop before Sabatino earned a trip to the line after weaving her way through the lane.
 
Following a miss by Korzekwinski, the Hawks kept the pressure on and forced a bad pass in the back court earning another chance that was capitalized on by Karly Wittenbauer who hit on a baby jumper at the elbow to extend the lead to five.

SUNY New Paltz kept the pressure on in the waning seconds of the quarter and forced the Bengals into a five-second violation with a trap on the sideline. Buffalo State frantically then fouled Sabatino just before the buzzer sounded on a half-court heave to put her on the foul line where she made all three attempts to boost the Hawks lead to 43-35 entering the fourth.
 
 
"We were struggling a bit. We were going 1-on-1 against the defense, and we weren't really playing together, and we needed to re-focus," Sabatino said. "It starts with defense, and we just had to get a few stops and that helps facilitate our offense and helps us get going."
 
The momentum was fully swung for the hosts in the final 10 minutes with SUNY New Paltz staying hot from behind the arc. Bonnell swished four of her seven 3-pointers in the final quarter with Sabatino, Carter and Olivia Ventre also hitting from 3-point range to balloon the cushion to as many as 28.  
Needing just a point and an assist to reach the triple-double mark, coach Jamie Seward left Sabatino on the floor in the last few minutes. Her teammates came up clutch to aid in the feat, as Sabatino kicked out to an open Ventre from the perimeter who nailed the trey to get the assist on the books. Sabatino then kept the ball in her hands the next time down the floor, staying aggressive and earning another trip to the charity stripe where she made the single point needed to officially solidify her spot in the program record books with immense applause from the home crowd.
 
"It was such a huge loss losing Bri, and I kind of had to step up into this new role of being more of a facilitator scoring wise, which I haven't been in the past, but I have her in my ear helping me every step of the way," Sabatino said. "These younger guys they're tough. They're really smart, they catch on quick, and we work really well together as a team so it's really nice to have such a good group like that."
 
Bonnell finished with a career and game-high 21 points, all stemming from the 3-point line as she netted 7-for-18 in 33 minutes with one rebound, one assist and two steals. Korzekwinski was also in double figures, tying Sabatino for a game-high 11 rebounds while adding two assists, a block and a steal and shooting a productive 7-for-14 in 33 minutes. Sabatino meanwhile, littered the box score, totaling 10 points, five of which came at the foul line, with 11 rebounds, including five on the offensive glass, with a career-high 10 assists and two steals.
 
SUNY New Paltz looks to add to its current winning streak and perfect record at home with its final game in the Hawk Center of 2024 Tuesday, as it hosts Hamilton College at 6 p.m. The victory would push the Hawks above the .500 mark for the first time this season.
 
"It's exciting. We love playing at home. It's just such a great atmosphere," Sabatino added. "We have the brand-new court, and we play good on that court. It's a lot of fun and it's bittersweet to have that feeling."

Sabatino Highlights:


Julia Sabatino Post-Game Interview:


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