NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team played a tough offensive and defensive game to charge past Ithaca College, 71-63, in the Hawks' home opener on Wednesday evening.
 
New Paltz improves to 3-0 and heads out on the road to Hartwick College on Monday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. Ithaca drops to 0-2 and returns home to host the Ithaca College Invite on Friday-Saturday, Nov. 20-21.
 
New Paltz turned 24 turnovers into 24 points, committing only 12 turnovers to Ithaca's 21. The Bombers held a 48-42 edge in rebounds but both teams were even in field goal percentage, both shooting 33.8 percent from the floor.
 
Junior forward Courtney Irby (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) paced the Hawks with 14 points and two steals while senior guard Colleen Ames (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) chipped in 11 points. Junior guard Morgan Roessler (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) led the team with nine rebounds and added 10 points off the bench. 
 
Despite the Hawks jumping out ahead with four early points, the Bombers were quick to tie up the score with 8:09 left in period. The teams traded points throughout the rest of the first quarter but a layup by Roessler in the final seconds would give the Hawks a one point advantage over Ithaca.
 
Roessler put up a 3-pointer to extend the Hawks' lead in the second period but the Bombers pushed a 4-0 spurt for a 28-24 advantage. The Hawks soon regained momentum as 3-pointer from sophomore guard Sydney Pinn (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) and a layup from Ames placed New Paltz ahead on the scoreboard once again.
 
Sophomore guard/forward Laura Stuart (Levittown, N.Y./Division Avenue) added two more points to increase the New Paltz lead but a 3-pointer from sophomore guard Erin Woop placed the Bombers behind by two at the half.
 
The Bombers regrouped in the third quarter, extending their lead as large as six. The Hawks slowly closed the gap on the Ithaca and tied the score at 55-all early in the fourth quarter.

New Paltz controlled the ball for the rest of the game, running away with an 11-point lead. Ithaca managed to sink one last 3-pointer for the final 71-63 outcome.
 
Junior guard Alex Gilligan led the Bombers with 14 points while freshman guard Allie Tunick posted 13 points. Junior forward Erin Ferguson and junior guard Ali Ricchiuti topped the team with nine rebounds apiece.