Feb 04, 2014
Box Score
CORTLAND, N.Y. – In her last eight games, freshman forward Kit Small (Slingerlands, NY/Academy of the Holy Name) has established herself as one of the top rookies in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC), and her performance Tuesday night against SUNY Cortland sent a message to the entire conference that she'll be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
Behind Small's 22-point performance, highlighted by her aggressive pursuit of the basket, the State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team avenged an earlier season 13-point loss against the Red Dragons, with a 58-48 gutsy road victory. As has become the norm, Small made her living at the free throw line, converting on 12-of-15 attempts. Junior guards Ashley Riefenhauser (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Dobbs Ferry) and Shannan Walker (Vestal, NY/Vestal), came through with clutch three pointers to augment Small. Walker's was particularly poignant, as she drained a 28-footer from the top of the key with 2:12 to play to help seal the victory.
The Hawks improve to 5-15, 3-10 in the SUNYAC and have now won two of their last three games. Cortland drops to 11-9, 7-6. New Paltz returns to the Hawk Center for its final home games of the season, starting with a 6 p.m. contest against Buffalo State on Friday, Feb. 7. Cortland travels to SUNY Oswego on Saturday, Feb. 8 for a 6 p.m. game.
Small, who has averaged 17.1 points per game in her last eight outings, was difficult to contain, equally difficult in both halves. With a total team effort, New Paltz reversed a 32-27 halftime deficit into a 41-37 lead that was highlighted by a Rienfenhauser three-pointer and a Hawk defense that held Cortland scoreless for nearly eight minutes early in the session.
The Hawks were down 37-28 after Cortland senior guard Megan Touhey nailed a three-pointer at the 18:08 mark, but went on a nifty 13-0 run for the 41-37 lead and never looked back. Four consecutive points by Small gave New Paltz a 45-40 advantage, and while Cortland got within 45-44 on a layup from senior forward Grace Williamson, New Paltz freshman forward Courtney Irby (Farmingdale, NY/Farmingdale) answered with a power layup from the right side and a 47-44 lead. Two subsequent free throws from sophomore guard Christine Rivera (Long Beach, NY/Valley Stream) and Walker's deep three-pointer pushed New Paltz ahead 52-46 with 2:14 remaining.
In the first half, Williamson was a handful down low, scoring 10 points in the first 5:08 of the game and 14 of Cortland's first 19 points. Sophomore guard Goldie Harrison (Elmont, NY/Elmont Memorial), pushed the pace, however, and kept New Paltz within striking distance with her aggressive style of play that earned her a 6-for-8 night from the free throw line. When Cortland surged ahead 26-20 with 2:22 until intermission, back-to-back baskets by Rienfenhauser and Walker kept the Red Dragons from pulling away.
Small finished with 22 points and eight rebounds. Harrison finished with 10 points. Irby had eight rebounds. Cortland's offensive scoring came from Williamson's 19 points. Junior forward Erin Wolstenholme had 16 rebounds.
CORTLAND, N.Y. – In her last eight games, freshman forward Kit Small (Slingerlands, NY/Academy of the Holy Name) has established herself as one of the top rookies in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC), and her performance Tuesday night against SUNY Cortland sent a message to the entire conference that she'll be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
Behind Small's 22-point performance, highlighted by her aggressive pursuit of the basket, the State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team avenged an earlier season 13-point loss against the Red Dragons, with a 58-48 gutsy road victory. As has become the norm, Small made her living at the free throw line, converting on 12-of-15 attempts. Junior guards Ashley Riefenhauser (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Dobbs Ferry) and Shannan Walker (Vestal, NY/Vestal), came through with clutch three pointers to augment Small. Walker's was particularly poignant, as she drained a 28-footer from the top of the key with 2:12 to play to help seal the victory.
The Hawks improve to 5-15, 3-10 in the SUNYAC and have now won two of their last three games. Cortland drops to 11-9, 7-6. New Paltz returns to the Hawk Center for its final home games of the season, starting with a 6 p.m. contest against Buffalo State on Friday, Feb. 7. Cortland travels to SUNY Oswego on Saturday, Feb. 8 for a 6 p.m. game.
Small, who has averaged 17.1 points per game in her last eight outings, was difficult to contain, equally difficult in both halves. With a total team effort, New Paltz reversed a 32-27 halftime deficit into a 41-37 lead that was highlighted by a Rienfenhauser three-pointer and a Hawk defense that held Cortland scoreless for nearly eight minutes early in the session.
The Hawks were down 37-28 after Cortland senior guard Megan Touhey nailed a three-pointer at the 18:08 mark, but went on a nifty 13-0 run for the 41-37 lead and never looked back. Four consecutive points by Small gave New Paltz a 45-40 advantage, and while Cortland got within 45-44 on a layup from senior forward Grace Williamson, New Paltz freshman forward Courtney Irby (Farmingdale, NY/Farmingdale) answered with a power layup from the right side and a 47-44 lead. Two subsequent free throws from sophomore guard Christine Rivera (Long Beach, NY/Valley Stream) and Walker's deep three-pointer pushed New Paltz ahead 52-46 with 2:14 remaining.
In the first half, Williamson was a handful down low, scoring 10 points in the first 5:08 of the game and 14 of Cortland's first 19 points. Sophomore guard Goldie Harrison (Elmont, NY/Elmont Memorial), pushed the pace, however, and kept New Paltz within striking distance with her aggressive style of play that earned her a 6-for-8 night from the free throw line. When Cortland surged ahead 26-20 with 2:22 until intermission, back-to-back baskets by Rienfenhauser and Walker kept the Red Dragons from pulling away.
Small finished with 22 points and eight rebounds. Harrison finished with 10 points. Irby had eight rebounds. Cortland's offensive scoring came from Williamson's 19 points. Junior forward Erin Wolstenholme had 16 rebounds.