The State University of New York New Paltz dominated the SUNY Canton Kangaroos in a fast-paced game Tuesday, claiming a 74-37 victory in the Hawk Center.
The Hawks brought their record to .600 improving to 9-6 overall with the victory and remained unbeaten in SUNYAC play, upping their record to 8-0, while also extending their winning streak to six games.
“I think since Vegas we have kind of found our groove and a lot of the missing pieces have been put together and we’ve just been working together really hard the past few weeks,” said SUNY New Paltz sophomore guard Hannah Vanderzee.
The Hawks shot an impressive 41.2 percent from 3-point range, while knocking down nearly 40 percent from the floor. Vanderzee was the offensive catalyst, as she led the team with 15 points. She was a force on both sides of the ball, also picking up a team-high six defensive rebounds while adding a block.
“I feel like I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable,” said Vanderzee who is enjoying a breakout sophomore campaign. “It’s been a bigger role that I’ve had to step up into this year, but I know my teammates always have my back and they’re a part of the reason why I’ve been able to be so comfortable and take the shots that I’ve been able to make.
SUNY New Paltz’s impressive offensive execution and relentless defense were on full display as they overcame an early deficit to pull away late in the first quarter
The game’s intensity picked up quickly from the jump ball, with both teams exchanging possessions. After a quick turnover by the Hawks, the Kangaroos capitalized with an immediate basket by Canton’s Sierra Pabo to take a 2-0 lead. The hosts struggled to find their rhythm early in the first quarter, but Julia Sabatino got the offense going with a free throw, setting the tone for what would be a key performance. The graduate from Bayville, NY added 10 rebounds and four steals along with seven points and a team-leading five assists for the Hawks.
Freshman Sierra Carter helped SUNY New Paltz close the gap in the quarter, scoring on a fast-break layup, while Sabatino added two more free throws. With just less than three minutes left in the quarter, graduate Madison Mullman hit a clutch 3-pointer to give the Hawks their first lead of the game. The Roos answered quickly with a scoring drive of their own, but Mullman hit another 3 and sank two free throws after a failed drive by Canton to extend the Hawks lead. Vanderzee then nailed a 3-pointer and added two breakaway layups to close the quarter, putting her team ahead by 12 points.
Vanderzee, set the tone for the rest of the game and what would continue to be a dominant performance. Once the second quarter began SUNY New Paltz stepped on the gas. Canton’s Hope Aniceto hit a 3-pointer to start off the quarter, but Vanderzee quickly responded with scoring and assisting back-to-back layups that kept the Hawks in control. The Roos tried to stay in offensively with a couple of fast-break baskets, but the hosts were relentless on both offense and defense, outscoring Canton 18-7 in the second period to take a 38-20 lead into halftime.
Both teams came firing into the second half, as they traded possessions from the start. Finally, Sophia Bonnell hit a 3-pointer to put up the first points of the half. Canton continued to struggle to score against the Hawks aggressive defense. Graduate Abby Korzekwinski added 10 points and seven rebounds. The Shoreham, NY native played a pivotal role in pushing the Hawks to a 57-27 lead at the end of the third quarter.
With fresh legs entering the game in the fourth, the Hawks pulled away even further. Freshman Caitlin Mullen hit two free throws, while freshman Olivia Ventre added a layup and a 3-pointer in the final minutes. With back-to-back 3’s by Ventre and Mullen, paired with Ventre’s final block on Canton’s last possession capped off a dominant performance for the Hawks.
The Hawks sealed the win with a final score of 74-37 and secured the series sweep over the Roos after an 89-79 victory in their first meeting Jan. 14.
“I think our energy was a lot better today than last week,” Vanderzee said. “We were in a close game, and we had a big lead by the half and let ourselves go last week, and I felt like this week our energy kept through. We never had any slumps and if we did our energy never changed.”
SUNY New Paltz is back on the road on Friday against SUNY Potsdam. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
