Buffalo, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz picked up its fourth-straight victory to earn a clean sweep of the week after rolling to a 65-46 win over hosting Buffalo State Saturday.
It was a team effort for the Hawks (12-2 overall, 6-1 SUNYAC) who quickly established a double-digit lead seven minutes into the game and never trailed at any point to the Bengals (2-12, 1-6). The scoring was spread around for the visitors, as three players were in double-figure points with six others contributing offensively, while also getting 20 of their 65 points coming from their bench.
Hannah Vanderzee was the catalyst offensively early on, as she totaled 13 of her 16 points in the first half. One of her two steals in the game came halfway through the first quarter, resulting in any easy fastbreak bucket. She then capitalized on an offensive board by
Macie Perry, scoring underneath to officially establish her team's first double-digit lead at 17-6 with about four minutes to go in the first. Vanderzee had the final points of the quarter, scoring underneath to re-up the 11-point advantage going into the second quarter.
The Hawks' lead ballooned to 16 in the second following a make from
Karly Wittenbauer off an assist from
Sierra Carter. The Bengals brought the difference back down to 14 entering halftime and they continued to try and chip away at the start of the third.
The hosts got as close as 12, stepping into a 3-pointer in the final minute of the third quarter and had an opportunity to close the gap, getting to the foul line before also holding the final possession of the period, but the ball never found the bottom of the hoop and the score remained at 45-33 to start the final 10 minutes of action.
SUNY New Paltz coach
Jamie Seward worked in his bench to start the fourth with
Grace Koehler and
Kamryn Hoyt joining starters
Brianna Fitzgerald, Perry and Carter on the floor and the fresh legs helped the Hawks get out to an 11-0 run, stymying Buffalo State's offense which struggled getting anything to go from the floor.
Koehler buried a 3-pointer with three minutes to go to give SUNY New Paltz its largest lead of the day at 62-26, as the Bengals didn't find its first made basket until a triple made with just two minutes remaining. Koehler answered with another trey next time down the floor as the Hawks continued rolling to clinch their eighth win of 14-points or more.
SUNY New Paltz kept the Bengals to just 16 made baskets with the hosts shooting just more than 30 percent from the field, while SUNY New Paltz made about 36 percent on 25-for-70 shooting with 17 points coming from Buffalo State turnovers.
Vanderzee led all scorers with 16 points on 5-for-10 shooting in 26 minutes, while adding five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Wittenbauer followed with 12 points (6-13) with seven rebounds and three assists, while Fitzgerald added 11 points in 26 minutes, totaling five boards, one block and three steals.
SUNY New Paltz is back on the road Tuesday, traveling to Canton to conclude its home-to-home series against the Kangaroos whom it defeated Tuesday, 79-61. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
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