Box Score NEWBURGH, N.Y. – The Knights scored 26 points off turnovers en route to a 62-47 win over SUNY New Paltz in their 2011-2012 season debut on Tuesday evening. The non-conference win moves the Knights to 1-0 on the young season.

Early turnovers and cold shooting resulted in an 11-7 lead for the Hawks after the game's opening seven minutes. Mount senior Jen Mocanu (Belford, N.J.) converted a pair of free throw attempts with 7:57 remaining in the half to tie the game, 12-12. New Paltz junior Kahsyrah Bryant cashed in on a free throw attempt at the 4:47 mark to ignite a 5-0 run that put the Hawks back on top by 6 (19-13). A pair of free throws by Mount sophomore Samantha Rizzo (Millbrook, N.Y.) brought the Knights to within three, 25-22, at the conclusion of the half.

Trailing 25-22 at the start of the second half, junior Charneice McCullough (Wyandanch, N.Y.) nailed a triple to tie things up. Mocanu gave the Knights their first lead of the night with a lay-up just two minutes into the second. Despite starting strong by the Knights, neither team was able to establish a solid lead in the opening minutes of the half.

Down by a score of 34-31 with just over twelve minutes remaining, Mocanu erupted for eleven consecutive points and the Knights closed out the game on a 31-8 run. Mount senior Amanda Horvers (Kingston, N.Y.) added six points in the final four minutes of the game to put the game out of reach for the Hawks.

Mocanu led all scorers with 26 points in addition to grabbing three rebounds. Horvers and McCullough just missed double figures, both adding nine points. Freshman Kristina Nieves (Fair Lawn, N.Y.) pitched in with eight points and six rebounds in her collegiate debut. New Paltz junior Maliqua Fisher scored 10 points and just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. Bryant also chipped in with 10 points and eight rebounds.

Although the Hawks possessed a 50-33 rebounding advantage, they shot just 33.9-percent from the field. The Hawks were plagued by 35 turnovers and the Knights scored 26 points off turnovers.

The Knights return to action at the Amherst Tip-Off on Saturday, November 19. The Mount will face St. Lawrence University at 8:00 p.m.