New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team released its 2024-25 schedule today.

The calendar year is different but the goals remain the same for 18-year coach Jamie Seward and 13-year assistant Darren Jackson: for the Hawks to win at least 20 games; qualify for the SUNYAC Tournament; win the SUNYAC tournament and earn the automatic NCAA DIII tournament invitation that goes with it; and to progress beyond the second round of the NCAA DIII Tournament. The 2024-25 Hawk schedule provides the challenges needed to attain those goals.

SUNY New Paltz will open the 2024-25 campaign with four games away from the friendly confines of the Hawk Center. Saturday, November 9 will see the Hawks visiting [Patchogue] [Long Island] to open the season against St. Joseph's University. St Joseph's was [18-9 a year ago, with an appearance in the Skyline Conference semifinals] [5-20 a year ago]; this will be the first meeting between these two teams.

Tuesday, November 12 matches SUNY New Paltz against Hudson Valley rival and Liberty League champion and NCAA DIII first round team, Vassar College. Last season the Hawks defeated the Brewers 70-62, one of just three blemishes on Vassar's 25-3 record, Saturday, November 23 will find the Hawks in the Finger Lakes, at Ithaca College. The Bombers, a 2023-24 Liberty League semifinalist, defeated SUNY New Paltz 74-73. SUNY New Paltz's final away game is on Saturday, December 1, just a short drive down the thruway to Newburgh, against Mt. St. Mary College. The Knights, 18-9 a year ago and Skyline Conference and ECAC DIII semifinalists, lost to the Hawks 76-58 in 2023-24.

The Hawks open their home season at the Hawk Center with a SUNYAC doubleheader, hosting SUNY Fredonia on Friday, December 6 and Buffalo State University Saturday afternoon, December 7. SUNY New Paltz won the season series against both the Blue Devils and Bengals, 78-70, 88-48 and 85-45, 69-41, respectively. SUNY New Paltz closes out its first home stand on Tuesday, December 10, hosting Hamilton College. The Contientials, 17-8 and a NESCAC quarter finalist a year ago, last played the Hawks in 2013, with Hamilton coming on top with a 46-72 victory.

After an almost three week break from competition, SUNY New Paltz is back in action at the 14th Annual D3hoops.com Classic at the South Point Arena in Las Vegas. The Hawks' first tourney game is on Saturday, December 28 against Cal Lutheran University (Thousand Oaks, CA). The Regals were 19-7 a year ago and Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference runners-up. Monday, December 30 sees New Paltz up against Colorado College (Colorado Springs, CO). The Tigers, Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference runners-up, were 20-8 in 2023-24.

The next 16 games will all be against SUNYAC opponents. The 2025 campaign opens with the Hawks facing three road games. First up on Tuesday, January 7 will be SUNYAC semifinalists SUNY Oswego; the Hawks won the season series versus the Lakers, 58-50, 54-44 and defeated them in the conference semifinals 55-53.

Saturday, January 11 sees New Paltz at Catskill Cup rival SUNY Oneonta. The Red Dragons, a SUNYAC tournament quarter finalist a year ago, lost the season series to the Hawks 75-52, 63-53. SUNYAC newcomer SUNY Canton entertains New Paltz on Tuesday, January 14 in the first meeting between the Roos and the Hawks. Canton was 21-6 and North Atlantic Conference semifinalist a year ago.

The Hawks return home for a three game set, meeting SUNY Cortland on Friday, January 17 and another SUNYAC newcomer, SUNY Morrisville, on Saturday, January 18. The Red Dragons split with SUNY New Paltz a year ago, giving the Hawks their only SUNYAC loss, 60-49, with SUNY New Paltz defeating Cortland 80-72 in the series finale. The Morrisville Mustangs finished 8-18 a year ago, but made the North Atlantic Conference West semi-finals. This will be the first meeting between New Paltz and Morrisville. New Paltz closes out this homestead on Tuesday, January 21 with the season series final against SUNY Canton.

The weekend of Friday, January 24 and Saturday, January 25 finds the Hawks traveling up the Northway to meet SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Plattsburgh. SUNY New Paltz won the season series against the Bears, 64-55, 60-59 and the Cardinals 83-65, 55, respectively.

The Hawks are home again for a single game against SUNY Oswego on Tuesday, January 28 before hitting the westbound thruway for return match ups against Buffalo State University on Friday, January 31 and SUNY Fredonia on Saturday, February 1. SUNY New Paltz is home for a Friday, February 7 and Saturday, February 8 season series wrap up with SUNY Plattsburgh and SUNY Potsdam.

A season final weekend trip to SUNY Morrisville on Friday, February 14 and SUNY Cortland on Saturday, February 15 completes the season series with these two teams. The Hawks finish the regular and SUNYAC season at home in the Hawk Center on Saturday, February 22, hosting SUNY Oneonta.

Tuesday, February 25 sees the first round of the 39th annual SUNYAC Tournament, with the semifinals and championship game scheduled for Friday, February 28 and Saturday, March 1, hosted by the highest seeded team.

The winner of the SUNYAC Tournament receives the coveted NCAA DIII invitation, with the first and second round tournament games scheduled for Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8.

To view the complete women's basketball 2024-25 schedule, click here.


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