Cortland, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz fell against the Cortland Red Dragons Saturday. In the competitor's first matchup of the season, the Hawks defeated the Red Dragons 64-50. Unfortunately, they could not replicate the performance in their second meeting, as Cortland triumphed over SUNY New Paltz, 61-56.  

From the tip-off, neither team scored until over two minutes into the first quarter, when Hannah Vanderzee cleaned up a missed three around the rim to give the Hawks the first points of the day. Cortland was quick to respond, immediately draining a three to take the lead. 

The Red Dragons tacked on another point at the line after Vanderzee committed her first personal foul. Following the make, the Hawks transitioned the other direction and got the ball into Sophia Bonnell's hands, the freshman letting it fly from beyond the arc and netting a three. A minute later Cortland layed a shot in before a media timeout and headed to the bench back in the lead, 6-4. 

Two minutes later, Cortland went on a six-point scoring streak before being interrupted by Sierra Carter, who drained a three off an assist by Bonnell. The make was the last of the first, which Cortland finished up 12-9. 

SUNY New Paltz scored first out of the break, as Abby Korzekwinksi worked her defender in the paint to secure a made layup. On the next possession, the Red Dragons responded with a three from the corner, extending their advantage to 15-11. 

With just under six minutes remaining, Jackie Funk tried to find a lane to the basket but was fouled by Bonnell and earned a trip to the line. Funk sank both free throws for the Red Dragons, but Cortland continued the fouling pattern and gave Carter a chance for two as well. Unfortunately, the freshman could not convert and Cortland finished another layup to get up 19-12 before another media timeout. 

Karly Wittenbauer entered the game for Korzekwinski with just over four minutes left of the half, and the junior immediately made an impact with an assist to Carter for the Hawks' first points of the second. The Red Dragons swung the momentum back in their favor, however, and scored a similar layup on their offensive end.  

In the final minute of the second, Cortland tacked on a jumper from inside the paint, but Wittenbauer quickly responded with a jumper on the other end after picking up a defensive board. The buzzer sounded seconds after, Cortland up 23-16.

The Hawks were troubled in their shooting game in the first half against the Red Dragons, as they shot 19.38 percent from the field and 14.29 percent from three, with SUNY New Paltz missing all six three-point attempts shot in the second quarter. Cortland shot more consistently, shooting 45 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc. 

The hosts were first to strike out of halftime, as the Red Dragons rejected Carter going up for the layup and transitioned to score a long two. Korzekwinski found more success down low the following play, and finished around the rim for the Hawks' first of the half. 

SUNY New Paltz nearly found success in their full-court press as Vanderzee came up with a steal in the midcourt, but Brooke Tillotson took possession right back and spun near the basket to finish a tough layup for a nine-point Cortland lead. 

Madison Mullman sank a trey to bring SUNY New Paltz within five with just over five minutes left in the quarter, but Funk found the bottom of the net once again to reup Cortland's lead. The Red Dragons followed with a three which extended their lead to 11 points — their largest advantage of the game. 

The Hawks tried to chip away at Cortland's lead, and Bonnell sparked a back-to-back run with her third made three of the game, followed by Vanderzee laying in a make assisted by Julia Sabatino to bring SUNY New Paltz within four. 

Mullman drained her second three of the game with under two minutes left to attempt to reignite the Hawks' offense, but before the conclusion of the quarter Cortland was able to reextend their lead to seven with a made jumper, entering the fourth quarter with a 43-36 score. 

The Red Dragons struck first again in the fourth, with a layup from Funk, but Mullman layed one in herself within the same minute. Funk responded soon after with another easy bucket, but Korzekwinski scored four in a row to cut the deficit to only five points, 47-42, before a Cortland timeout. 

The Hawks kept close to the Red Dragons throughout the final five minutes of play, but they could not overcome the slight deficit to regain the lead from the hosts. Funk finished the game with the final point made from the line, and Cortland came out victorious in the SUNYAC rematch, 61-56. 

Korzekwinski led SUNY New Paltz with 13 points in 25 minutes played. Bonnell followed with 12 points and five rebounds. Sabatino recorded a team-high ten rebounds and five assists while Vanderzee tallied three steals. 

The Hawks play their final regular season game on Feb. 22 against the Oneonta Red Dragons. Game time is set for 2 p.m. 

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