New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz men's and women's basketball programs were both named in the latest NCAA Division III Regional rankings, released Feb. 4.
 
The Hawks women's basketball program is currently 19-3 after earning its fifth-straight SUNYAC sweep to improve to 14-1 in the conference while maintaining the top seed in the league.
 
Playing one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country, SUNY New Paltz biggest win came on Dec. 29 against then No. 3 nationally ranked Christopher Newport, handing the Captains its first and only loss of the season and first regular season defeat in nearly four years, breaking a streak of 71 consecutive games. The Hawks also handed No. 22 nationally ranked Vassar College its only loss of the season thus far, coming in a 70-62 triumph in the Hawk Center Nov. 14.
 
SUNY New Paltz also holds wins over regionally ranked Middlebury and SUNY Cortland. Their only losses came in a tough four-point defeat to New Jersey City on Nov. 25, a 74-73 loss to regionally ranked Ithaca College Dec. 9, along with falling to the Red Dragons during the pairs first matchup of the year Jan. 9.  
 
SUNY New Paltz men's basketball is having its best season in its history, holding a 17-5 overall record, including 11-4 in the SUNYAC. The Hawks nearly pulled an upset over then No. 5 nationally ranked SUNY Oswego Jan. 30, falling in a tight, 84-83 overtime game. They earned non-conference victories over Vassar, John Jay, Misericordia and Hunter and hold a regional win over Brockport as the two teams split its season series.
 
The victory Tuesday night over Buffalo State not only gave the Hawks the series sweep, kept them in contention for a top-two seed in the conference tournament, but also pushed them one win away from tying the most ever in program history — an 18-11 overall finish during the 1998-99 season when current coach Keith Kenney was starting on the floor for SUNY New Paltz.
 
Both the men's and women's basketball programs have three games left of their regular season, all coming on the road. The three-game slate starts Saturday at Oneonta before traveling to Plattsburgh and Potsdam Feb. 16-17.
 
To view the NCAA Division III men's regional rankings, click here.
 
To view the NCAA Division III women's regional rankings, click here.

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