NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The College at Brockport women's basketball traveled to New Paltz Friday night for the SUNYAC Semifinals where they went head to head with the top-seeded Hawks. Even though late game heroics pulled the Golden Eagles to a tie score, the Hawks came out on top 70-67 to take home the win.
 
The Golden Eagles came ready to fight for a spot to compete in the championship game, shooting a strong 56% from inside the circle and 66.7% from the perimeter through the first two quarters.
 
To start the first, the Green and Gold struggled to find opportunities, allowing the Hawks to take a quick eight-point lead three minutes in. Allison Chiera and Julianna Taylor helped close the gap with back to back strong takes to the basket. Untimely fouls and turnovers continued to cause issues for the Golden Eagles, however points from Kylee Rosbrook from the outside and Emily Merrill under the net helped keep the team within distance.
 
Despite the Hawks healthy 21-13 lead to start the second frame, the Golden Eagles answered back almost immediately with Taylor and Chiera adding the first scores to the board. Strong defense by the Green and Gold helped stall the Hawks offensive effort long enough for them to move the lead back to single digits. Solid layups by Bailey Pratt and Chelsea Henry moved the score to 26-21, just in time for Taylor to then command the perimeter for three on the next possession. Now with a little momentum, the Golden Eagles offense caught a spark, with a pair of threes from Zaria McCullough to allow the team to move within three to end the period.
 
The Golden Eagles resilient second period continued their efforts into the third as they continued to battle the Hawks for the lead. The offenses went to work to open up the third as the two traded points for the first couple of minutes. With 7:17 left and the Hawks only leading by two, senior Emily Nestler went to work in the paint, tying the score at 41. Nestler's basket would be the final basket scored for the next four minutes by either team, as the defenses put serious pressure on one another. Henry opened things back up for the Golden Eagles, giving them their first lead of the game. Taylor followed with another set of points to offset the Hawks scoring, however the Green and Gold trailed 47-45 at the end of the third.
 
The fourth posed a struggle for the Golden Eagles as they allowed the Hawks to go on an 11-point run while killing a decent amount of time off the clock. A set of free-throws by Pratt put the Green and Gold back on the board. Taylor then continued to step up offensively, nailing another three from the shoulder to move them back within eight. Both teams then traded three-point basket, Pratt sinking it for the Golden Eagles.
 
After essential layups from Nestler and Henry, Pratt marked her territory from the outside once again, moving the Green and Gold within five. Nestler feeding off of Pratt's energy, nailed back to back layups to put them within one with a minute and a half left to play. The Golden Eagles then saw strength off the bench from Morgan Elmer as she sank a three to tie the game at 67. Despite an outstanding performance by the Green and Gold in the final moments, the Hawks were able to maintain a 70-67 lead to take the win.
 
Taylor and Nestler led the offensive front for the Golden Eagles, Taylor notching 14 points and two assists and Nestler with 11 points and nine rebounds.
 
The Golden Eagles cap off their 2018-2019 season with an overall record of 11-16.
 
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