SUNY New Paltz was no match for NYU’s women’s basketball team. Ranked fifth in the latest d3hoops.com basketball poll, the Violets steamrolled their way to a 71-48 victory. The Violets, now off to a 6-0 start this season, had an early lead and continued to consistently play on both sides of the ball. Junior guard Kaitlyn Read led the team in an explosive first half, raising her season average to 19 points per game, scoring 24 points on an efficient 9-16 shooting.

“We really had to focus every possession on working around their defense, which we had really worked on in practice,” Read said.

Read’s big performance was complemented by a balanced attack on offense and defense. Eight Violets played at least 15 minutes, contributing to an attack that relied on both starters and bench players. The Violets’ defense held New Paltz to no more than 13 points in each quarter and just 29.1 percent shooting. Senior forwards Megan Dawe and Maya Wasowicz combined for 28 points, with Dawe going a perfect 6-6 from the field.

In addition to restricting New Paltz’s shooting opportunities, the Violets also forced a number of turnovers. They combined for 13 steals, 11 of which were in the first half.

In what has become standard this season, the Violets dominated in a number of statistics. NYU controlled the game throughout and outscored New Paltz 34-16 in the paint. The team also noticeably outscored New Paltz 27-8 off turnovers, reflecting the Violet’s ability to get out and score in transition.

“Our primary focus these past couple weeks has been on team defense and this team really tested us on that,” Dawe said.

The win comes at a busy time off the court for the squad. While the remainder of the team’s December schedule is light — just two games — final exams, holiday travels and other factors can understandably place a considerable amount of pressure on a student athlete. With the end of the semester in sight and a long season still ahead, the Violets plan on staying focused.

“In spite of finals and the holidays and end-of-semester stress, we will have to put that aside when we step onto the court for the next few days,” Dawe said.

The Violets next travel to Boston to play Emmanuel College on Dec. 5 as they try to finish 2015 unblemished.

“We just have to remember that we have a target on our backs and that no game is going to be easy,” Read said.

Email Michael Thompson at [email protected].