Montclair, NJ — The State University of New York New Paltz closed out 2025 with a pair of victories at the Montclair State hosted Mike Scala Memorial Tournament following a 58-46 victory over Franklin and Marshall College Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Hawks improved to 7-1 overall and after a slow start, graduate student and two-time All-American Brianna Fitzgerald galvanized her team to the win with help from senior forward Karly Wittenbauer off the bench. The two combined for 40 of SUNY New Paltz's 58 points, and 26 of the team's 46 total rebounds.
 
The Diplomats (8-3 overall) controlled the game early with the Hawks struggling to find the bottom of the hoop. Franklin and Marshall jumped out to a 12-2 lead seven minutes into the game, but Wittenbauer provided a much-needed spark, as she helped her team get within four to start the second quarter as she scored four points in six minutes to add to a plus-8 scoring margin. She grabbed an offensive board leading to two free throws to start the second, cutting the score to 14-10.
 
Wittenbauer responded to a long-ranged jumper from the Diplomats with a tough finish on a put-back underneath before sinking a shot from the arc to keep the game within two possessions. She eventually tied the score at 19-all on a mid-ranged jumper with Hannah Vanderzee pushing SUNY New Paltz ahead for the first time, aggressively attacking the hoop and finishing with her left.
 
The first half advantage didn't last long, however, as Franklin and Marshall responded with five-straight points and it maintained the lead at halftime with Fitzgerald trimming the difference to one at 28-27 on two made free throws before the break.  
However, like against Montclair the night before, the Hawks anchored down defensively and limited their opposition to just 18 second half points on 4-for-27 shooting, including one made basket in the third quarter.
 
Sierra Carter, who was the catalyst against the Red Hawks Monday, was sidelined due to an apparent injury in the first half, shortening the Hawks bench with coach Jamie Seward opting to go big on the floor, as Wittenbauer filled in with the starting rotation with Fitzgerald and Vanderzee handling the ball up the floor. The matchup worked well, as Fitzgerald began taking over with the Diplomats struggling against the Hawks' length and pressure.
 
Fitzgerald attacked the hoop on SUNY New Paltz's opening offensive possession to give her team the lead once again. A pair of free throws allowed Franklin and Marshall to take a one-point lead, but following a three-minute scoring drought by both sides, Macie Perry broke up the stretch with a put-back to regain her team's advantage, which the Hawks never let go of the rest of the way.
 
Following Perry's basket, the Hawks proceeded on a 7-0 run capped by a 3-pointer from Kayden Cornell to fatten the cushion to 36-30 with three minutes to go in the period. Fitzgerald took over from there to build a double-digit advantage for her team. She scored the final seven points of the quarter and gave SUNY New Paltz a 45-34 lead entering the fourth.
 
SUNY New Paltz stayed in control in the final 10 minutes, backed by Fitzgerald who scored 15 of her game-leading 22 points in the second half including 11 in the third quarter. She kept her foot on the gas for the Hawks, weaving to the hoop, spinning through two defenders and finishing tough to push the score to 57-46 with about two minutes left, holding onto the double-digit cushion for her team.
 
Fitzgerald ultimately finished with 22 points on 8-for-17 shooting, including 6-for-10 from the foul line with 12 rebounds, recording her second double-double of the season and 18th of her career, while adding three assists, two blocks and two steals in a full 40 minutes on the floor. Wittenbauer followed, scoring 18 points in 34 minutes off the bench, adding a career- and game-high 14 rebounds for her first career double-double, while contributing a team-leading four assists and two steals.
 
SUNY New Paltz resumes play after the New Year, hosting Oswego State Jan. 6 in the Hawk Center for SUNYAC action at 5:30 p.m.

 
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