Canton, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz went on the road to play new conference rival SUNY Canton Tuesday and defeated the Kangaroos, 89-79 on their home floor to improve to 5-0 in the SUNYAC.
 
The Hawks brought their record back to .500 after improving to 6-6 overall with the victory, leaning on their most prolific scoring performance of the year. As a team, they shot 46. 2 percent from the floor, hit on six 3-pointers and connected on 23-for-32 from the foul line.
 
Hannah Vanderzee led the way offensively, as she scored a game- and career-high 23 points on 7-for-16 shooting from the floor, while making a perfect 9-for-9 from the foul line. She also added six rebounds, a block and two steals in 26 minutes. Graduate student guard Julia Sabatino also highlighted the final stat sheet, as she was an assist away from notching her second-career triple double performance. The Bayville, NY native finished with 13 points on 5-for-13 shooting with a game and career-high 12 rebounds and a game-high nine assists, while also adding three steals.
 
Vanderzee was the catalyst for SUNY New Paltz to open up the game, as the Roos had no answers for the sophomore on the block. Vanderzee capped her first quarter's 13 points with an and-1 on a strong right-handed finger-roll finish to boost her team's lead to 26-18, as Grace Cozzens solidified the score with a block on the Roos final possession of the period.
 
Vanderzee sat for the majority of the second quarter after picking up a quick second foul. Canton stuck around and got within six with 3:26 after matching a Madison Mullman made 3 with a transition jumper seconds later leading to a media timeout on the floor. Out of the break, SUNY New Paltz re-built an 11-point advantage as Mullman capped the 5-0 run after Sophia Bonnell found the extra pass to Mullman in the corner for 3.  
The Hawks ended the half up 14 thanks to an offensive board by Karly Wittenbauer who found Korzekwinski for an easy two with 30 seconds left. Canton gave SUNY New Paltz an extra possession on an unforced traveling violation as it ate time of the clock. The Hawks converted on another in the final seconds as Sabatino kicked out to an open Mullman in the corner and for the second straight time knocked down her attempt from the spot for 3 to extend the lead, 52-38 at the break.
 
Wittenbauer ballooned SUNY New Paltz's lead to 22 with a made jumper in the final minute of the third, but the hosts countered with a bucket to trim the Hawks' lead to 20 entering the fourth.
 
With six minutes to go in the final period, Canton gained some life after hitting a long-ranged contested 3 pointer as the shot-clocked expired to get within 11 at 75-64. A made runner in the lane by the Roos cut the score to 77-70 with four minutes left. SUNY New Paltz and Canton were then awarded two free throws apiece on technical fouls given to both teams. Korzekwinski hit both her attempts with the Roos connecting on both as well to keep the difference at seven with Canton keeping possession.
 
The Roos picked up an offensive rebound off an initial miss, leading to a pair of free throws with Korzkekwinski committing her fifth and final foul on the ensuing possession. Canton swished both attempts from the line and trimmed the score to 79-74 with just more than three minutes to go.
 
Sabatino had a crafty play on the inbounds with two minutes left, passing the ball off the back of a Roo before scoring two underneath to push the score to 81-74 as the game clocked ticked under two minutes. Canton got back to the foul line next time down the floor and made both to re-create a five-point difference. Sabatino found a cutting Sierra Carter on the Hawks' ensuing possession. The freshman was hit on her attempt at the hoop and was sent to the charity stripe to shoot two. Carter made both to add some more cushion for her team with about 90 seconds left.
 
The Roos missed their next two shots and needed to put SUNY New Paltz on the foul line to slow the game down with 30 seconds remaining. The Hawks made 6-for-8 in the final seconds and iced the win.
 
Korzekwinski followed Vanderzee offensively, finishing with 19 points on 7-for-8 shooting with five rebounds, two assists and a steal in 25 minutes. Bonnell and Mullman each added 12 points apiece with Bonnell registering three rebounds and four assists, while Mullman posted four boards, a block and a steal off the bench.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back home for the first time in 2025 Friday in a re-match of last year's SUNYAC title game against SUNY Cortland. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the Hawk Center.
 

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