NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team made a fourth quarter comeback to defeat State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) opponent SUNY Plattsburgh, 62-52, on Friday evening.
 
The Hawks improve to 5-2, 1-0 and host SUNY Potsdam tomorrow at 2 p.m. The Cardinals drop to 4-1, 0-1 and will face SUNY Oneonta tomorrow at 2 p.m.
 
Despite a slow start for both teams, Plattsburgh found its mark and managed to stay three to five points ahead of the Hawks to lead into the second quarter.
 
Senior guard Colleen Ames (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) tied the score 19-all with a 3-pointer at 3:43 but Plattsburgh pushed a seven point charge to hold a 28-21 advantage at halftime.
 
Midway through the third quarter, the Hawks managed to cut Plattsburgh's 10-point lead to three before senior guard Goldie Harrison (Elmont, N.Y./Elmont Memorial) netted a jump shot at the buzzer to catapult the Hawks up by one (45-44).
 
New Paltz maintained its momentum in the fourth quarter, extending it lead to seven. The Cardinals rallied to trim the deficit to four on a made free throw by freshman guard/forward Simone Ayers but Plattsburgh unable to catch the Hawks as they soared to the final 62-52 victory.  
 
Small led the team in points, notching 19 while Ames added 13 points off the bench. Junior forward Courtney Irby(Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) posted a double-double with a career-high 21 rebounds and 10 points while grabbing four steals and three assists.
 
For the Cardinals, senior guard/forward Stephanie Linder paced the team with 16 points and four assists while senior forward Devona Paul grabbed 15 points and 17 rebounds while hitting 7-of-8 from the foul line and 4-of-8 from the field.
 
Plattsburgh shot 33.3 percent (18-of-54) from the field and 56.5 percent (13-of-23) from the line but New Paltz held a 62-44 edge in rebounds and turned 14 Plattsburgh turnovers into points while committing only 13.