Oswego, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz extended its winning streak to 10 after taking a regular season sweep of hosting Oswego Tuesday night with a 61-50 victory.
 
The Hawks improved to 18-2 overall and 12-1 in the SUNYAC, taking sole possession of first place with the victory. The Lakers dropped to 8-11 and 6-7, respectively, falling to seventh in the SUNYAC standings.
 
For the third time this season, senior Karly Wittenbauer surpassed a career high as she continued a career campaign leading all scorers with 25 points in 30 minutes of action, adding eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals for the Hawks. Graduate guard/forward Brianna Fitzgerald followed with her seventh double-double of the year, including her second consecutive, after finishing with 16 points and 13 boards in 27 minutes, shooting 6-for-10 with two assists, a block and a game-high five steals.
 
Oswego didn't have an answer for the duo, as Wittenbauer and Fitzgerald combined for 35 of the team's 52 points through three quarters, which facilitated an eventual 22-point lead down the stretch after a tight first half.
 
The two teams were tied at 13 to end the first quarter, although SUNY New Paltz only trailed for about three minutes the entire game which came in the final minute of the first and the beginning of the second quarter. Fitzgerald connected in the paint on the Hawks' final possession of the first period to knot the score at 13s to enter the second, but the Lakers opened up the following 10 minutes with a 3-pointer. Sierra Carter and Hannah Vanderzee hit back-to-back buckets two minutes later to re-up the visitors advantage and SUNY New Paltz stayed in front the rest of the way.
 
 
Oswego got the game to two possessions midway through the stanza, but Wittenbauer answered with a triple off an assist from Kayden Cornell before Fitzgerald won the ball back immediately on a steal and capitalized in the open floor for two more points to quickly build a nine-point lead for her side.  
An and-1 for the Lakers in the final seconds of the half helped bring the difference down to five, but a huge play from Carter who made her way through the paint, getting her basket to go on a tough finish while also drawing the foul allowed the Hawks to hold onto an eight-point cushion following the ensuing made free throw at the break.
 
The third quarter changed the game, as SUNY New Paltz came out and dominated. The Hawks out-scored Oswego, 19-7 and held the hosts to two made baskets on 14 attempts to flex a lead of 22 following make from the foul line by Fitzgerald with 2:30 left. One of the two made field goals in the period by the Lakers came in the final seconds, as they cut into the lead, 52-32 entering the fourth.
 
Oswego put a dent into the deficit in the fourth, but ultimately it was too much to overcome in the final 10 minutes with SUNY New Paltz's bench getting the job done to solidify the victory.
 
Carter finished with 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals as the only other Hawk in double figure points. Vanderzee rounded out SUNY New Paltz's scorers, ending with seven points, four boards, two assists and two steals.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action this weekend, as it returns to the Hawk Center to host Buffalo State and Fredonia in its regular season home finale. Game times are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.


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