NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – A slow start didn't deter the State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team, which stormed back from a 14-point second half deficit to draw within five points of visiting SUNY Cortland in the second half, but the Hawks couldn't muster enough offensive momentum, falling to the Red Dragons 66-53 in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play on Tuesday night at the Hawk Center.
 
The Hawks, who trailed 41-27 with 18:28 to play,   went on an 11-2 run over the next 5:27 to draw within 43-38 with 13:01 remaining.  Five different players contributed to the comeback effort, led by four points from senior forward Jeannette Scott (West Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon), but it was the closest New Paltz would come to Cortland. The Red Dragons answered with their own 11-2 run, aided by two 3-pointers from junior guard Phoebe Byrnes that extended the Cortland lead to 54-40 with 8:02 to play. The Red Dragons were able to protect their lead the rest of the game.
 
The loss drops New Paltz to 2-8, 0-3 in the SUNYAC. Cortland improves to 7-3, 3-0. The Hawks will next host SUNY Oneonta at the Hawk Center on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. Cortland next hosts Buffalo State this Friday at 6:00 p.m.

Cortland, which saw its starting five score all but four of its 66 points, led for the vast majority of the game.  The game saw only two lead changes and no ties.
 
In the early stages, the Hawks showed signs of not playing since a Dec. 10 contest at Hamilton, struggling with connecting from long distance and ball control. In a slowly evolving game, New Paltz trailed 16-11 with 8:30 until halftime, but over the next 5:26, Cortland built a 31-19 lead thanks to a 15-8 run and led 37-25 at intermission. Senior guard Megan Touhey spearheaded the attack, scoring 13 of her game-high 16 points in the first half.
 
The Hawks mounted their comeback with a concerted effort to score in the paint and earned all of their 11 points during their run off strong interior offense. New Paltz saw its comeback attempt short circuit when both Scott and sophomore guard Goldie Harrison (Elmonst, N.Y./Elmont) fouled out with 8:42 and 5:56 remaining in the game.
 
New Paltz was led by the stellar play of junior guard Shannan Walker (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal), who led the Hawks with 13 points with five rebounds and two assists in 39 minutes of action.  Freshman forward Kit Small (Slingerlands, N.Y./Academy of the Holy Name) came off the bench to tally 12 points with a team-high nine rebounds. Harrison added nine points
 
Cortland had four players in double figures, led by Touhey's 16 points and 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field from senior forward Grace Williamson.