New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz evened its season series with No. 20 Cortland Saturday in the Hawk Center following a 57-55 win.
 
SUNY New Paltz improved to 17-2 overall and 11-1 in the SUNYAC, tying Cortland for the top spot as it suffered its first conference loss of the season, dropping to 16-3 and 11-1, respectively.
 
The Hawks defense was the catalyst, keeping the Red Dragons to their fifth lowest point total of the season and under their 62.5 points per game margin as the visitors shot below 38 percent from the field and 1-for-7 from 3-point range — well below their typical 45 percent on the year.
 
Despite the size difference with 6-foot, 2-inch Joleen Lusk for the Red Dragons, the Hawks did a good job of keeping possessions to one shot for the visitors as they worked hard on the defensive glass, ending the half with 14 defensive rebounds to out-rebound Cortland 18-12 within the first 20 minutes.
 
The Hawks were forced to play without senior forward Karly Wittenbauer for the backend of the first half due to early foul trouble as she played eight minutes to start. Lusk benefited with five points and four rebounds in 15 minutes, helping her team stay close.
 
SUNY New Paltz took a six-point lead at halftime, as the Red Dragons cut into the lead following a defensive board and quick outlet down the floor to score underneath in the final second to trim the score to 27-21 at the break.
 
 
The Hawks, however, stayed on the front foot and never trailed in the second despite Cortland continuing to rally down the stretch. Cortland got within five midway through the third, but Brianna Fitzgerald immediately answered driving to the hoop. Wittenbauer then made a great defensive play, picking the pocket of Sophie Bissallion who tried to get baseline. The steal resulted in a basket by Kayden Cornell with Wittenbauer working hard to tip the initial 3-point attempt by Sierra Carter to Fitzgerald who found Cornell underneath for a nice dish on the layup.
 
The Red Dragons stayed steadfast, but SUNY New Paltz remained composed and hit timely shots from the perimeter. Carter drilled a 3-point attempt to up the lead to eight before Cornell caught and knocked down a triple of her own on an assist by Fitzgerald two possessions later to create a nine-point advantage. Summer Perry then put an exclamation point on a strong defensive quarter, stepping in on a driving Bissaillon to deter her shot, which allowed the Hawks go 2-for-1 in the final minute as Fitzgerald got her layup to go to push her team ahead, 45-34 heading into the fourth.  
Wittenbauer swished on a turnaround jumper to provide SUNY New Paltz its largest lead of 13 to start the fourth, but Cortland slowly chipped away at the deficit. With about 90 seconds to go, Sam Dembinsky laid in two inside following an offensive board on her own miss to create a 53-49 score. Carter was then sent to the charity stripe, and her make was crucial to create a two-possession game at 55-51.
 
Each team missed their next attempt and with time dwindling, Cortland opted to intentionally foul. They sent Macie Perry to the line who missed both attempts, but Wittenbauer corralled a huge offensive board to eat more seconds off the clock as the Red Dragons sent the Edison, NJ native to the line. She made 1-of-2 to create a five-point difference. Jackie Funk added two out of a timeout by the Hawks, which was then followed by a timeout from the Red Dragons with 14.8 seconds left.
 
Lusk picked up the defensive board off the Carter miss on the second attempt and out of a Cortland timeout, her number was called as the inbound was lofted toward her underneath where she caught and laid in two to cut the score, 55-53 with 10.8 seconds. Wittenbauer was hit and shot again and she made 1-of-2 before the Red Dragons drew up another play in the final seconds. Mairah Huss threw up a one-handed contested shot behind the arc that narrowly went in, but Brooke Tillotson picked up the offensive board and opted for two points with the visitors fouling one last time at 1.9 seconds left. Fitzgerald then made 1-of-2 and with .1 seconds the Red Dragons had one last hope, but the Hawks defense locked down and didn't allow a thought of a miracle shot to end, resulting in the 57-55 outcome.
 
Fitzgerald finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds, both game-highs, for her sixth double-double of the year, while shooting 7-for-13 with a game-high four assists, two blocks and a steal. Hannah Vanderzee and Wittenbauer followed with 10 points apiece with Cornell contributing eight points, two rebounds and a block in 22 minutes off the bench.
 
SUNY New Paltz extended its winning streak to nine games, while staying unbeaten in the Hawk Center. It will have to travel for its next game, going on the road to conclude its series with Oswego Tuesday that was rescheduled from Jan. 27 due to the snowstorm. The Hawks and Lakers are scheduled for tip-off at 5:30 p.m.  
 

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