NEWBURGH, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team defeated Mount Saint Mary College, 66-57, on Tuesday evening.
 
The Hawks improve to 4-1 and host New York University on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. Mount Saint Mary drops to 2-3 and hosts Skyline Conference foe Yeshiva University on Monday, Nov. 30 at 9 p.m.
 
The Knights held a 58-53 edge in rebounds and shot 37.9 percent (25-of-66) from the field but the Hawks turned each of the Knights' 22 turnovers into points.
 
Senior guard Colleen Ames (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) led the team with 17 points while sophomore guard/forward Laura Stuart (Levittown, N.Y./Division Avenue) posted 14 points. Junior forward Courtney Irby(Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) notched 10 points and a team-high 13 rebounds for a double-double.
 
Sophomore forward Jessica Rini posted 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Knights while freshman guard Megan Kerutis added 10 points. Freshman center Kayla Cleare led defensively for Mount Saint Mary with 10 rebounds and four blocks.
 
Both teams were evenly matched and continually traded points before concluding first quarter at 19-all. The Knights jumped out ahead early in the second quarter but a 3-pointer by Stuart grabbed the lead for New Paltz (27-25).
 
The Knights were quick to bounce back, tying up the score yet again but the Hawks gained the upper hand at 3:00 when Stuart knocked back a jump shot for a two-point lead. Two free throws by Irby at 0:33 extended the Hawks' lead to four (35-31) at the half.
 
The third quarter saw Mount Saint Mary cut the deficit to one before surging ahead on a fastbreak field goal by Kerutis. Ames and Stuart responded a minute later, grabbing a combined seven points to extend the lead for New Paltz.
 
The Hawks maintained a double figure edge throughout the fourth quarter until a shot in the paint brought the Knights within eight of the Hawks. However a free throw by freshman guard Taylor Howell (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) sealed the ultimate 66-57 win for New Paltz.