Written by Julia Ruocchio

When and Where:

November 9, 2024 - Patchogue, NY

Records:

St. Joseph's (L.I.), 1-0; New Paltz, 0-1

Results:

The St. Joseph's University (L.I.) women's basketball team began their season with a thrilling 66-65 win over No. 22 ranked SUNY New Paltz in a non-conference match-up at the Danzi Center on Saturday afternoon. Four Golden Eagles finished with double-digit points.

Top performers:

• Senior Isabella Sierra led the Golden Eagles with 14 points while adding six rebounds and a game-high five steals

• Graduate Student Charlotte Twohig scored 13 points and collected five rebounds and three steals

• Junior Megan Spina contributed 12 points and a team-high four assists

• Senior Felicia Barreiros added 11 points and six rebounds

• Julia Sabatino and Madison Mullman each scored 12 points for New Paltz

• Morgan Hammell grabbed a game-high nine rebounds for the Hawks

How it happened:

• New Paltz jumped out in front 6-0 on a pair of three-point shots within the first minute and a half

• St. Joseph's proceeded to go on an 11-1 run that saw the hosts take their first lead of the day, as they led 11-7 at the 2:38 mark after a pair of free-throws by Barreiros

• A pair of three-point plays by Sabatino put the visitors ahead 16-12 with under two minutes remaining in the quarter

• A three for Barreiros and a layup for junior Emma Kelly gave the Golden Eagles a slim 17-16 lead heading into the second quarter

• The Hawks took back the lead right away to begin the second quarter on a three for Mullman at the 9:06 mark. The visitors increased that lead to five (22-17) with 6:16 on the clock after a pair of free-throws for Abby Korzekwinski

• St. Joseph's responded by going on an 11-0 run, which was their largest of the game. Kelly sparked the run with a three, then Sierra's layup at the 5:07 mark tied the game at 22 apiece. Twohig scored four straight points before Sierra struck again with another layup to increase the lead to 28-22 at the 1:44 mark for their largest lead of the afternoon

• New Paltz scored eight of the next nine points to pull ahead 30-29 with just 44 seconds remaining on a Olivia Ventre jumper before the visitors went into the half with a two-point lead (31-29)

• The Hawks scored the first six points of the third quarter to take a lead of 37-29, which was their largest lead of the game

• A three-point play for Barreiros shortly after cutting the deficit to one (38-37) at the 4:12 mark, then Spina executed a three-point play of her own to put the Golden Eagles on top 40-38 with 3:53 remaining

• The final four minutes of the frame was a back-and-forth battle that featured four lead changes, with the Hawks holding onto a 50-46 advantage going into the fourth quarter

• With the visitors ahead by five (54-49) about three minutes in, Sierra connected for a three-pointer to cut the deficit to two at the 6:31 mark, before Junior Gabrielle Andreacchi made a basket to tie the game at 54 with six minutes on the clock

• New Paltz responded with a 7-0 run that put them ahead 61-54, with Hannah Vanderzee scoring four of those points

• The Golden Eagles came back to score the next seven points, with Twohig's timely three-point shot tying the game at 61 with 3:55 on the clock

• Trailing 65-64 with under 30 seconds remaining, Twohig delivered once again as she made two big free throws with 25 seconds on the clock to put the Golden Eagles back ahead 66-65

• St. Joseph's held on to that lead to take down No. 22 New Paltz to begin their season

Notes: 

• St. Joseph's shot 40.4% from the field and 31.3% from three-point range

• The Hawks posted a 34.3% shooting percentage overall and 22.7% from beyond the arc

• New Paltz held the advantage in rebounds (39-37) and points in the paint (34-30)

Next up:

The Golden Eagles return to action on Wednesday, November 20 when they visit St. Joseph's- Brooklyn for their conference opener at 6:00 pm.