NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Cortland cut a 16-point second-half deficit to two but couldn't complete the comeback as the Red Dragons lost at New Paltz, 71-67, in a battle of the SUNYAC's top two women's basketball squads.
Cortland suffered its first league loss and is now 14-3 overall and 9-1 in the league. New Paltz remained unbeaten in conference play at 9-0 and is now 13-3 overall.
Nyia Longford (Medford/Longwood) led Cortland with 18 points and was tied for second on the team with seven rebounds.
Emily Morano (Olyphant, PA/Mid Valley) scored 15 points and pulled down five rebounds,
Casey Travers (Manorville/Eastport-South Manor) finished with 12 points and seven boards, and
Sarah Tully (East Aurora) led the team with 11 rebounds and two blocks and added six points.
Lexi Van Vorst paced New Paltz with 20 points and five assists. She made 5-of-8 3-pointers. Jenny Walton hit 3-of-5 treys and finished with 15 points, Brianna Fitzgerald totaled 11 points and seven boards, and Graci Serravillo ended with eight points and team highs of nine rebounds and three steals.
Cortland led only once at 1-0 less than two minutes into the game. New Paltz led 21-15 after one quarter and extended its lead to 31-19 just over three minutes into the second quarter. The Hawks held a 39-30 halftime lead and scored the first seven points of the third to take its largest lead at 46-30.
Cortland was back within seven at the 5:22 mark of the third, and while New Paltz pushed its advantage to 13 points at 58-45 with 1:17 remaining, Cortland scored the final five points of the period on a
Corinne Miedreich (Pearl River) layup and a Morano 3-pointer and was down eight entering the fourth.
The Red Dragons were within four after a
Julia Siler (Seaford) bucket midway through the fourth. The margin stayed between four and seven points the next four-plus minutes until Cortland closed to within two at 69-67 after a Tully putback in the final 30 seconds. Fitzgerald hit two free throws to give the Hawks a four-point lead, and Cortland missed a 3-pointer in the closing seconds.
Cortland travels to Oneonta Saturday for a 2 p.m. SUNYAC game.
