PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's basketball team fell at home Friday evening against Oswego State in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) matchup, 49-58. Both teams held the lead as it was a close affair throughout until late in the fourth quarter when Oswego pulled away with back-to-back buckets that extended their lead to nine.

Imani Walcott (Albany, N.Y. / Albany) led the way offensively for the Cardinals with a career-high 23 points and 11 rebounds to record her eighth double-double of the season and her third in a row. Walcott also blocked one shot and grabbed one steal. Mya Smith (Wappingers Falls, N.Y. / Roy C. Ketcham) recorded her first double-double of her career as she posted 16 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. Payton Couture (Redford, N.Y. / Saranac) got in on the action with eight points, five rebounds, and two steals. Kathy Peterson-Ross (Lake Forest, Ill / Lake Forest) and Selma Deisz (Bekkestua, Norway / Nadderud VGS) were on the boards as they both recorded four rebounds.

For the Lakers, Logan Castiglione led the way with 19 points. Giovanna White-Principio led all players with 15 rebounds.

Both teams shot low percentages from the field as the Cardinals shot 28.3% and the Lakers 34.3% while also making 7 of 23 threes at 30.4% compared to the Cardinals 4 of 17 at 23.5%. The Lakers shot a perfect 5 of 5 from the free throw line while the Cardinals made 11 of 15 at 73.3%. The Cardinals forced 16 turnovers and got only 8 points from them while the Lakers forced 12 turnovers and also got 8 points from them. The Lakers dominated the glass 51-37.

Plattsburgh moves to 7-12 overall (4-9 SUNYAC) and are back in action at home tomorrow, Feb. 3 as they tip off with Cortland at 2 pm. Oswego moves to 11-8 overall (7-6 SUNYAC) and will travel to Potsdam tomorrow, Feb. 3 for a 2 pm tip-off.

The first half was low-scoring and close throughout as both teams held the lead and made runs. The Cardinals jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead to start the first. Macey Deordio got the Lakers on the board with a three to which Couture responded with a three of her own and made the score 10-3 Cardinals with less than seven minutes to go. The Lakers cut the lead to two before Walcott ended the first with an and-one layup that made the score 14-9 Cardinals.

Julia Greek (Long Island, N.Y. / Ward Melville) opened the second with a bucket for the Cardinals followed by a layup from Castiglione. Karleigh Leo made a three that tied the game at 16 with a little over seven minutes to go. The Lakers made a three and took their first lead of the game momentarily before Smith responded with a three that tied the game at 19. The Cardinals ended the second on a 5-2 run and went into halftime up 24-21.  

Castiglione got the Lakers on the board with a jumper followed by a Couture three. The Lakers took the lead 30-29 before Walcott made a layup that made the score 31-30 with less than five minutes to go. Zhane Holmes made a jumper that gave the Lakers back the lead for the remainder of the third period. The Lakers stretched their lead to seven as the third ended 41-34.

Smith opened the fourth with two free throws followed by a Deordio jumper. With less than five minutes to play the Lakers stretched their lead to nine on a Castiglione layup that made the score 50-41. The Cardinals responded with six straight points that cut the lead to three. Castiglione stopped the run with an and-one layup that made the score 53-47 Lakers. Walcott made a layup that cut the lead to four but a dagger three from Castiglione and an insurance bucket from Julia Logan put the game away 58-49 Lakers.