SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Despite a career-high 19 points from junior Megan Lee, the Union College women's basketball team dropped a 66-56 decision to SUNY New Paltz in non-conference action on Saturday night at Viniar Athletic Center.
 
Lee had an excellent effort for Union (0-2), hitting 9-of-11 shots from the field in 34 minutes of action. She was joined in double figures by senior Amber Raisner with 10 points, while junior Olivia Pachla added eight points, eight rebounds and five blocks.
 
New Paltz (4-1) was paced by Brianna Fitzgerald with a game-high 21 points and Maddie Gillis with 13 points, four assists and three steals.
 
Union managed New Paltz's full-court pressure relatively well in the opening quarter, getting several good looks at the basket early on. The pressure started to wear on the Dutchwomen later in the frame, as an 8-2 run put the Hawks up 15-11 before a late layup by senior Darby Leid brought Union within two after 10 minutes.
 
A 9-3 run early in the second stanza gave Union back the lead, with two baskets from Pachla and one from Leid starting the run and a Lee trey finishing it. The teams battled back-and-forth for the rest of the quarter, with Lee putting Union back on top 32-31 in the final 30 seconds.
 
The Dutchwomen hit 9-of-14 shots in the second quarter to finish the first half at 51.7 percent (15 of 29) from the field, while the Hawks connected at a 38.7 percent (12 of 31) clip but were helped out by 14 points off Union turnovers.
 
The third quarter swung momentum in favor of the Hawks. The visitors outscored Union 19-10 to take back the lead for good, as the home team hit only 4-of-12 shots and turned the ball over nine times in the 10-minute stretch. Following a Lee jumper that tied the score at 35, New Paltz went on a 10-2 run over the next 2:13, capped by a Jenny Walton three that put the Hawks up 45-37.
 
The Dutchwomen came out strong to begin the fourth with six straight points to get within a basket, and then got back within three again following a bucket from Leid with 6:29 left that made the score 53-50. The deficit was still three (55-52) with 4:49 left after a Raisner layup, but New Paltz scored the next seven points to extend its lead to double figures and Union was unable to make a run to get back into the game.
 
The home team shot the ball well on the night, hitting 25-of-52 shots (48.1 percent), but the team was done in by 31 turnovers that gave New Paltz 11 more attempts. The visitors shot 41.3 percent (26 of 63) from the field and posted a 21-11 edge in points off turnovers.
 
Union will begin Liberty League play next weekend, starting with a Friday night matchup with St. Lawrence University at 5:30 p.m. at Viniar Athletic Center.