MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - Sophomore guard/forward Kit Small (Slingerlands, N.Y./Academy of the Holy Names) scored game-high 15 points as the State University of New York at New Paltz held off host Wesleyan 50-48 on Saturday afternoon in the championship game of the Courtyard by Marriott Tournament at Silloway Gym.

With the victory, the Hawks improve to 3-2 on the season and will host Hudson Valley rival Mount Saint Mary on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. Wesleyan, meanwhile, moves to 2-2 as the Cardinals head to Vassar on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

The contest was knotted at 48 with 14 seconds remaining when Small missed a jumper but sophomore forward Courtney Irby (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) hauled in the offensive rebound and was fouled on the play. Irby went on to convert both free throw attempts to give the Hawks a two-point margin with just 13 seconds remaining. Following a timeout, the Cardinals' Jackie Browne heaved up a jumper but was off the mark as New Paltz held on to win the tournament championship game.

Small led all scorers with 15 points behind 6-of-15 shooting while pulling down nine rebounds. In addition, Small was named the Tournament MVP after averaging 11.0 ppg and 5.0 rpg during the two-day event. Irby contributed five points and nine boards and was named to the All-Tournament Team, averaging 8.0 ppg and 9.0 rpg. Freshman guard/forward Laura Stuart (Levittown, N.Y./Division Avenue) chipped in eight points and seven rebounds in just 10 minutes of action off the bench.

Both teams struggled from the field as New Paltz shot 26.2 percent (17-of-65) and Wesleyan managed just a 27.6 percent outing (16-of-58). The Hawks forced 21 turnovers and scored 12 points off the Wesleyan errors. The New Paltz bench once again outscored its opponent 22-5 with Stuart leading the charge.

The second half started out all New Paltz as the Hawks claimed an 11-point lead with 14:13 to play when junior guard/forward Colleen Ames (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) knocked down a jumper. The lead increased to 17 points (41-24) when junior guard Christine Rivera (Long Beach, N.Y./Valley Stream) sunk a shot from downtown with 11:26 to play.

After that basket, however, Wesleyan would go on a 24-7 run in the next 10 minutes to knot the game up at 48 with 42 seconds remaining before Irby would sink both free throws to give New Paltz the lead and eventually the win.