Buffalo, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz suffered its second straight loss Friday, falling to Buffalo State, 64-60.
 
The Hawks dropped to 11-8 overall and 10-2 in the SUNYAC after the defeat Friday, coupled with their first conference loss of the season Tuesday against SUNY Oswego. The last time SUNY New Paltz dropped two straight SUNYAC games was in 2017 and their last defeat to the Bengals was in 2022. The win improved Buffalo State to 5-13 overall and 2-9 in the SUNYAC.
 
SUNY New Paltz shot 34.3 percent from the floor, including just 15 percent from 3-point range on 3-for-20 attempts. In the last three games, the Hawks made just 9-for-65 from 3-point range.
 
The Bengals got out to a 24-15 lead at halftime with SUNY New Paltz making just seven shots in the opening 20 minutes. The Hawks worked their way back in the second half, shooting 44 percent from the field.
 
Hannah Vanderzee ignited a spark, as the sophomore helped SUNY New Paltz come back from a 17-point deficit scoring seven of 14 points in a 14-7 run that brought the difference down to eight with three minutes to go in the third, capped by a basket underneath by Abby Korzekwinski.
 
Buffalo State got to the foul line on three consecutive possessions to end the quarter and pushed its lead to 13 entering the fourth. It carried the momentum into the final 10 minutes where it ballooned its lead back to 17 with five minutes left. The Hawks stuck around though and chipped away at the deficit once again. Julia Sabatino officially got SUNY New Paltz in a two-possession game, swishing on a free throw to create a 57-52 game with just more than 90 seconds to go.
 
The Hawks created a turnover on the next play with Sabatino garnering a look next time down the floor, but the attempt was blocked and grabbed by the Bengals forcing SUNY New Paltz to foul. Buffalo State made both attempts to create a seven-point game. Madison Mullman answered on the other end, swishing from 3-point range to get SUNY New Paltz within four, but the visitors couldn't get a stop on the opposite end and the Bengals were able to keep SUNY New Paltz at bay the rest of the way following the made jumper with 30 seconds remaining.
 
The Hawks forced Buffalo State into 31 turnovers where they capitalized 33 points off of. However, the Bengals held the advantage on the glass, 43-33, scoring 28 points in the paint, while shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor.
 
Sabatino led all scorers with 17 points in 40 minutes, shooting 6-for14 with six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Vanderzee followed with 16 points in 14 minutes off the bench, hitting 6-for-13 from the field, while adding four rebounds, one block and two steals. Korzekwinski was the only other Hawk in double-digit points, finishing with 11 on 5-for-8 shooting from the floor with six rebounds and two steals. Sierra Carter chipped in with a career and game-high six assists with a steal and two points.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Saturday, going on the road to face Fredonia at 2 p.m.


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