MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The Franklin & Marshall women's basketball team (8-3, 1-1 CC) was defeated by SUNY New Paltz (7-1, 1-0 SUNYAC), 58-46, Tuesday afternoon on the final day of the Mike Scala Memorial Tournament. The Diplomats jumped out to an early lead, but the Hawks stormed back by outscoring F&M in each of the final three quarters.

Franklin & Marshall started fast on offense to take an early edge in the contest. Lizzie Neville made a layup to give F&M a 7-2 lead halfway through the first quarter. Neville added two more points on the next possession, followed by a three-pointer from Fiona Reckner to boost the Diplomats ahead by 10. The Hawks chipped away at the deficit, cutting F&M's lead to four. However, Kayla McCrea knocked down a pair of free throws to close the first quarter with the Diplomats holding a 14-8 lead.

SUNY New Paltz continued fighting back, taking a 21-19 lead halfway through the second quarter. McCrea responded by making a jumper, followed by Gianna Modica drilling a three-pointer to retake the lead for F&M. After the Hawks made a jumper, Hailey Cabanas made a pair of free throws to keep the lead at three. Steph Sexton connected on a jumper to give the Diplomats a 28-23 lead with 1:27 remaining in the period. SUNY New Paltz scored four points in the final minute of the quarter to cut F&M's lead to 28-27 entering halftime.

The Hawks drew an early foul and made two free throws to take the lead to start the third quarter. Neville made two free throws two possessions later to retake the lead. However, SUNY New Paltz gained an edge on the scoreboard five minutes into the quarter and did not surrender the lead for the rest of the contest. Neville made a layup to cut the New Paltz lead to 38-33 with two minutes remaining in the quarter. From that point, the Hawks finished the frame on a 7-1 run to take a 45-34 advantage into the fourth quarter.

F&M began chipping away at the deficit as the Diplomats got within nine with three minutes remaining in the contest, but that was as close as they would come to catching the Hawks on the scoreboard.

Franklin & Marshall shot 22.2 percent (14-of-63) from the field, while shooting 26.3 percent (5-of-19) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, SUNY New Paltz shot 44.2 percent (23-of-52) from the field, while outrebounding the Diplomats, 43-38, in the contest.

Neville led the Diplomats with 20 points, six rebounds, five assists, and five steals. McCrea followed with 12 points, seven rebounds, and three steals in the game.

Franklin & Marshall now heads to Dallas, Pennsylvania on Saturday to face Misericordia at 2:00 p.m.