Ulster Women Get Their First Conference Win

SUNY Ulster women complete their four game road series (3-1). Which is the best start in over 15 years. The Senators traveled to face their first conference opponent SUNY Westchester. The Senators had a slow start with the score being (5-5) with five minutes remaining in the first quarter. The Senators led by just one point after the first quarter (14-13). Lead freshman guard Kaylah Neal had early foul trouble and had to sit the majority of the second quarter. Bryanna Sanders, Maria Bacigalupo and Kalia Hylton-Jackson stepped up to the plate and handled the guard position in place of Neal.

During the second quarter the Senators went on a (14-0) run giving them a seventeen point lead going into the half (40-23). The Senators looked like they’d expand the lead in the start of the third quarter with a quick five point swing making it (45-23). SUNY Westchester wouldn’t go away that easily, stopping the Senators on eight possessions to bring the lead down to nine at the end of the 3rd quarter (59-50).

In the fourth quarter both teams battled and traded scores for the seven minutes. Ulster finally settled down and managed to keep Westchester without a bucket in the remaining minutes of the game with Ulster pulling away (80-70). All nine of the Senators scored but there were five notables that led the way, Bryanna Sanders 21pts, 5 rebs, 9ast, 2stls; Kalia Hylton-Jackson 17pts,14 rebs, 3 ast, 1stl; Maria Bacigalupo, 11pts, 7 rebs, 1 ast, 2 stls; Trista Lukaszweski 9pts,10 rebs, 1ast , 1 stl & 2blks; Kaylah Neal 9pts, 1 reb, 1 ast & 2stls.

After the game Coach Taylor was asked, how he felt about the win and this being the best start in over 15 years? He said, “I’m excited for the program and what it means to not only the team but the college itself. We know as a whole we have things to work on if we want this success to continue. The team will have to continue to stick together and trust one another for the remainder of the season.”