As the State University of New York New Paltz women's basketball begins their 41st and final SUNYAC season, the goal looks to be to end this chapter of Hawks basketball history with one final run to the SUNYAC championship.
 
Last season, SUNY New Paltz came so close to its eighth SUNYAC championship, losing to SUNY Cortland in the conference championship round, closing out a heroic 2024-25 campaign that saw head coach Jamie Seward, assistant Darren Jackson and the players adjust to the season ending injury to All-American Brianna Fitzgerald. Facing once again a challenging non-conference schedule, in addition to the always rugged SUNYAC, senior leadership stepped up and led the Hawks to a fine 17-10 overall record and a 15-3 second place SUNYAC finish.
 
This final SUNYAC season will be different. With the graduation of four highly experienced players, including one All-Region and two All-SUNYAC selections, the Hawks will field a team featuring one graduate student, one senior, one junior, four sophomores and four first-year players, which includes the return of Fitzgerald who is looking to help lead the program to one last SUNYAC title.
 
"When I talked to coach about coming back, it's kind of what I said to him. I want to leave a legacy here," Fitzgerald said. "The girls that I've played with and that I've helped teach and bring up that's essentially a part of my legacy here and what I want to leave. I've always said that I wanted to leave this program better than when I first came here and all those new girls and all those freshmen that I've played with, they are a product of that. It's just so exciting how many teammates I've had and got to see develop throughout the years."
 
Once again, Seward and Jackson have not shied away from the Hawks playing the best of the best. The 2025-26 schedule includes five teams that captured their conference championships and went on to NCAA DIII tournament play, led by two-time DIII champion, New York University.
 
 
"I feel like this year we have so much potential in our defense to really pave the way for our team this year," said SUNY New Paltz sophomore guard Sierra Carter. "Last year we did come up a little short, but this year I feel like if everyone keeps doing what they're doing and keep grinding every day we'll be able to host those [postseason] tournament games."
 
Statistically, the 2024-25 Hawks averaged 63.9 points per game, while allowing opponents just 56.9 points per game — a plus 7.0 points per game. SUNY New Paltz produced 13.5 assists per game, 11.4 steals per game, 2.9 blocks per game and had an all-important 19.4 points off of opponents' turnovers ratio stemmed from their signature stifling defensive style accustomed by Seward-led teams.  
Returning for her final season after missing all of 2024-25, All-American Fitzgerald (GR, F, 5'10"/Dix Hills, NY/Island Trees HS) has the experience and leadership to move her younger teammates to success. She has been an imposing player for the program since her first playing season in 2021. She has led by example, starting 82-85 career games, logging the most court minutes of any player each season and is the epidemy of a complete player. In the championship 2023-24 season, Fitzgerald averaged 18.8 points per game, had 234 rebounds, 90 steals and 41 blocks to lead the Hawks; she was second with 101 assists.
 
"It just feels amazing to get back out here," Fitzgerald said. "I haven't played in over a year, so just to be out there, being with my teammates and feeling all of the support from them, there really is nothing in the world like it. It just feels really good after all the rehab and everything it took to get back that it paid off and I finally can get out here and keep doing what I love to do."
 
Junior guard/forward Hannah Vanderzee (5'9"/Ravena, NY/Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk HS) earned All-SUNYAC third team honors a year ago in a breakout season. She started 26 of 27 games with 641 floor minutes. She averaged 10.4 points per game, third among Hawks, with 116 rebounds, 33 assists, was second with 67 steals and first with 30 blocks.
 
Carter (5'7"/Watervliet, NY/Shaker HS) immediately inserted herself in the lineup as a freshman last season and earned 25 starts while appearing in all 27 games with 853 minutes of playing time. She averaged 5.0 ppg, with 116 rebounds, 49 assists, 27 steals and eight blocks, as she looks to ascend as a player and leader in year two.
 
"I wasn't expecting to play so much in my first year, but after getting on the court I've gained a lot of confidence," Carter said. "I'm growing in that confidence [this year] and being more assertive in my decision making and shot choice [on the court]."
 
Senior forward Karly Wittenbauer (5"9"/Edison, NJ/J.P. Stevens HS) returns as well, bringing another veteran presence alongside Fitzgerald and Vanderzee. In her first season with SUNY New Paltz last season following two years at Ramapo, Wittenbauer saw action in all 27 games for the Hawks and totaled 271 minutes on the floor. She averaged 4.2 points per game with 54 rebounds, 30 assists and 23 steals. Her role will grow in year two both on and off the court, as she, alongside Fitzgerald, Vanderzee, Carter and sophomore Caitlin Mullen was named as team captains ahead of the season.    
Mullin (5'4"/Rockaway, NY/Archbishop Molloy HS), looked primed for a break-out year as a sophomore in 2025 after totaling 201 minutes of playing time across 20 games, averaging 2.5 points per game with 23 rebounds, six assists and 10 steals as a freshman last season.
 
Two other sophomores look to have an impact in 2025-25. Forward Grace Koehler (5'7"/Highland, NY/Highland HS) and guard/forward Kamryn Hoyt (5'9"/Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley HS). Each saw limited action a year ago but their time on the team in 2024-25 gave them the opportunity to learn the Hawks system and now be ready to step in and make significant contributions to the team's success this year.

"Even though we have small numbers, I feel like everyone on our team is working hard every day and we're all grinding together," Carter said. "If everybody can get in there and do what they're supposed to do, I feel like that will really help us toward that SUNYAC Championship and into the NCAA Tournament."
 
Four first-year players balance out a tight-knit group with each looking to make an impact. All come from perennial championship high school programs, thus having the drive and determination to be successful. 
 
Guard Kayden Cornell (5'8"/Colonie, NY/Colonie Central HS) played a significant role in leading the Wolfpack to two Section 2, Class AAA championships at Colonie. Guard Deanna Barry (5'6"/Highland, NY/Highland HS) was a two-time All-New York State eighth-team All-Star pick, as well as a two-time Section IX All-Star selection for the Huskies. Macie Perry (5'11"/Broadalbin, NY/Broadalbin-Perth HS) earned All-New York State honors as a senior while leading the Patriots to a 20-2 record and the Section 2, Class A final. Twin sister Summer also earned All-New York State honors a year ago as part of a Patriot team that won its first ever Foothills Council title and made its first appearance in the sectional playoffs since 1988.  
"This is a small team, but an extremely talented team," Fitzgerald said. "All of our girls are extremely long and athletic and versatile and we can pretty much run any type of defense that we want to do with the versatility and length that all these girls have to offer. I'm just so excited. Anyone really can jump in and guard one through five and we have a ton of really good freshmen coming in. it's so exciting to see them grow and I'm excited to play with them."
 
The Hawks open the 2025-26 season facing five non-conference teams: all five saw post-season action with three winning their respective conference championships and earning berths in the NCAA DIII tournament. They begin at home Friday against Skyline Conference champion Mt. St. Mary College before facing Liberty League champion Vassar College Nov. 12 and Liberty League runner-up Ithaca College Nov. 15 — both in the confines of the Hawk Center. SUNY New Paltz then travels for its first road game of the year to the Palladium Athletic Center in New York City to take on UAA champion and two-time NCAA DIII champion New York University Nov. 22 before finally ending with Skyline Conference semifinalist Mt. St. Vincent University Nov. 25 also on the road.
 
SUNY New Paltz begins its quest for an eighth SUNYAC championship Dec. 5, hosting the Red Dragons of SUNY Oneonta. After participating in the Mike Scala Memorial Tournament at Montclair State University on Dec. 29-30, the Hawks run out consecutive 17 SUNYAC contests to conclude the 2025-26 season on Saturday, Feb. 21 at SUNY Potsdam.
 
The first round of the SUNYAC Championship Tournament begins on Tuesday, Feb. 24, with the semifinal rounds on Friday, Feb. 27 and the championship game on Saturday, Feb. 28. The winner of the SUNYAC championship will receive an automatic invitation to the NCAA DIII Tournament.

"I don't think anything would be more special," Fitzgerald said of winning one last SUNYAC title. "That is the absolute goal, and it would be such an amazing way to solidify my career here, to finish it off with my teammates, with my coach, and everyone that's been rooting for me the past couple years. I really appreciate all the New Paltz fans, all the parents that have been just so, so supportive and I just want to give that to everybody. So, that would be the most special thing I could dream of."

Season Preview Featuring Brianna Fitzgerald & Sierra Carter


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