The Oswego State women's basketball fell to New Paltz 57-50 on the road Friday evening. The loss moves the team's record to 5-11 on the season and 3-6 in the SUNYAC. New Paltz improves to 10-6 overall, 5-3 in conference.
It was an even game through the first half, with no team leading by more than four points at any single moment. The Lakers shot well going 47.4% (9-19) from the field. Even more impressive was the team's defense through the first twenty, which kept the Hawks field goal percentage to only 19.5% (8-41). Oswego was able to edge New Paltz by one, taking a 23-22 lead into intermission.
The Hawks scored the first bucket of the second half though, and were able to hold on to the lead for the remainder of the game. Alisha Jacobs and Mary Mazzella combined for five points at the charity stripe during a one minute stanza, cutting down the lead to two points with a 4:58 to go, but the Lakers were unable to capitalize and New Paltz pulled away.
Jacobs finished the game with a team leading 21 points to go along with six boards. Lexi Gillard fetched seven rebounds to lead all Lakers.
As a whole, the squad played solid defense, holding the Hawks to a 23.5% (19-81) shooting percentage and also forced 15 turnovers.
Women's basketball will stay on the road as it heads to Oneonta for a 4 p.m. tip-off on Saturday.
