Dec 03, 2013
Box Score
NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – A composed second half saw the State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team parlay a 20-16 halftime lead into a 42-37 second-half margin and withstood a determined comeback by Western Connecticut State University to earn a hard-fought, 46-43 victory on Tuesday night in non-conference action at the Hawk Center.
While both teams struggled shooting from long distance – the clubs combined for 1-for-35 from long-range distance – it was the Hawks that built a 31-21 lead just 3:42 into in the second half, orchestrated by a couple of driving layups and an all-twine jumper from sophomore guard Goldie Harrison (Elmont, N.Y/Elmont Memorial). Harrison finished with a career-high 17 points on an effective 7-of-12 from the field along with three steals and a pair of assists in a proficient 32 minutes of action. A swarming Hawk defense pestered WestConn into 33 turnovers, converting 27 points off those miscues.
The victory, the second straight for New Paltz, raises the season record to 2-4 heading into the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) season opener this Friday, Dec. 6, at SUNY Fredonia at 6 p.m. Western Connecticut drops its second straight and falls to 4-2. The Colonials will open Little East Conference play this Saturday, Dec. 7, with a 1 p.m. contest at the University of Southern Maine.
Harrison proved the catalyst throughout the contest. Another patented driving layup from the right side that kissed nicely off the glass pushed New Paltz ahead 35-23 with 14:37 to play, and with 11:11 remaining, she converted an old-fashioned three-point play to extend the Hawk lead to 42-27, its largest of the game.
The Colonials were able to forge a comeback, however, drawing within 42-38 after going on a strong 11-0 run. Four different WestConn players figured into the scoring mix, highlighted by a pair of free throws from sophomore guard Kerri Stolle with 6:07 remaining. The Hawks held steadfast, however, getting a power inside move from senior forward Jeanette Scott (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) and a layup by Harrison to build an eight-point margin, 46-38, with 4:11 to play.
But in a game that featured only three ties – all in the first half – and eight lead changes, the Colonials were determined to make the game a white-knuckle affair. With 1:35 to play, junior guard Caroline Brasa made a pair of free throw to cut the lead to 46-40. A single free throw from senior forward Chelsea Mone made the score 46-41 with under a minute to play put the Hawks on high alert, and when Mone made a layup underneath with 24 seconds left, WestConn drew within 46-43.
The Hawk defense clamped down at a perfect time, defending a Brasa missed three-pointer with 11 seconds left and making a last ditch three-pointer by senior forward Sciarra Brandt a difficult proposition as time ran out.
In the first half, New Paltz built its largest lead at 18-13 with 3:37 to play off a Harrison jumper. Just prior to intermission, freshman forward Kit Small (Slingerlands, N.Y./Academy of the Holy Name) hit a left-side jumper for a 20-16 lead.
Besides Harrison's 17 points, sophomore guard Christine Rivera (Long Beach, N.Y./Valley Stream) added 10 points. Small hauled down 10 rebounds, earning a new career high. Freshman forward Courtney Irby(Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) also grabbed 10 boards, with Scott adding nine.
WestConn got nine-point outings from both Stolle and Brasa. Brandt led all rebounders with 13.
NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – A composed second half saw the State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team parlay a 20-16 halftime lead into a 42-37 second-half margin and withstood a determined comeback by Western Connecticut State University to earn a hard-fought, 46-43 victory on Tuesday night in non-conference action at the Hawk Center.
While both teams struggled shooting from long distance – the clubs combined for 1-for-35 from long-range distance – it was the Hawks that built a 31-21 lead just 3:42 into in the second half, orchestrated by a couple of driving layups and an all-twine jumper from sophomore guard Goldie Harrison (Elmont, N.Y/Elmont Memorial). Harrison finished with a career-high 17 points on an effective 7-of-12 from the field along with three steals and a pair of assists in a proficient 32 minutes of action. A swarming Hawk defense pestered WestConn into 33 turnovers, converting 27 points off those miscues.
The victory, the second straight for New Paltz, raises the season record to 2-4 heading into the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) season opener this Friday, Dec. 6, at SUNY Fredonia at 6 p.m. Western Connecticut drops its second straight and falls to 4-2. The Colonials will open Little East Conference play this Saturday, Dec. 7, with a 1 p.m. contest at the University of Southern Maine.
Harrison proved the catalyst throughout the contest. Another patented driving layup from the right side that kissed nicely off the glass pushed New Paltz ahead 35-23 with 14:37 to play, and with 11:11 remaining, she converted an old-fashioned three-point play to extend the Hawk lead to 42-27, its largest of the game.
The Colonials were able to forge a comeback, however, drawing within 42-38 after going on a strong 11-0 run. Four different WestConn players figured into the scoring mix, highlighted by a pair of free throws from sophomore guard Kerri Stolle with 6:07 remaining. The Hawks held steadfast, however, getting a power inside move from senior forward Jeanette Scott (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) and a layup by Harrison to build an eight-point margin, 46-38, with 4:11 to play.
But in a game that featured only three ties – all in the first half – and eight lead changes, the Colonials were determined to make the game a white-knuckle affair. With 1:35 to play, junior guard Caroline Brasa made a pair of free throw to cut the lead to 46-40. A single free throw from senior forward Chelsea Mone made the score 46-41 with under a minute to play put the Hawks on high alert, and when Mone made a layup underneath with 24 seconds left, WestConn drew within 46-43.
The Hawk defense clamped down at a perfect time, defending a Brasa missed three-pointer with 11 seconds left and making a last ditch three-pointer by senior forward Sciarra Brandt a difficult proposition as time ran out.
In the first half, New Paltz built its largest lead at 18-13 with 3:37 to play off a Harrison jumper. Just prior to intermission, freshman forward Kit Small (Slingerlands, N.Y./Academy of the Holy Name) hit a left-side jumper for a 20-16 lead.
Besides Harrison's 17 points, sophomore guard Christine Rivera (Long Beach, N.Y./Valley Stream) added 10 points. Small hauled down 10 rebounds, earning a new career high. Freshman forward Courtney Irby(Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) also grabbed 10 boards, with Scott adding nine.
WestConn got nine-point outings from both Stolle and Brasa. Brandt led all rebounders with 13.