BUFFALO, N.Y. – Five threes helped the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team almost double the Bengals' points in the first half as the Cardinals went into the second half with a cushion and held off the Bengals' comeback, ultimately winning 55-48 in State University of New York (SUNYAC) play. With the win over the Bengals, the Cardinals complete the season sweep. Payton Couture (Redford, N.Y. / Saranac) led all players in points with 17 and tacked on 11 rebounds to record her third double-double of the season.

Imani Walcott (Albany, N.Y. / Albany) was also in double figures with 15 points to go along with seven rebounds and three steals. Jaden Wilson (Johnstown, N.Y. / Johnstown) and Julia Greek (Long Island, N.Y. Ward Melville) both contributed to the offensive effort with nine points each. Wilson also recorded two rebounds while Greek had five. Mya Smith (Wappingers Falls, N.Y. / Roy C. Ketcham) was making plays for the Cardinals as she led the team in assists with four contributing to 10 total assists as a team.

For the Bengals, Emma Cohen led her team in points with 13. Adiya Jones and Chloe Hanson both had nine.

Plattsburgh had a solid shooting night, shooting 36.2% from the field and 36.8% from the three making 7 of 19 while the Bengals shot only 29.8% from the field and 31.3% from the three making 5 of 16. Both teams had double-digit free throw attempts as the Cardinals made 6 of 11 at 54.5% and the Bengals 9 of 15 at 60.0%.  Both defenses were active as the Cardinals forced 21 Bengals turnovers and the Bengals forced 18 Cardinals turnovers. The difference was in taking advantage of those turnovers which the Cardinals did and got 21 points off turnovers compared to the Bengals nine. The Bengals did outrebound the Cardinals 44-39 however the Cardinals were still able to get more second-chance points with 14 while the Bengals only had seven.

Plattsburgh rises to 8-13 overall (5-10 SUNYAC) and will be back in action tomorrow, Feb. 10 at 2 pm as they travel to Fredonia for their last road game of the season. Buffalo State falls to 4-18 overall (1-14 SUNYAC) and will be back in action tomorrow, Feb. 10 at 2 pm as they host Potsdam for a 2 pm tip-off.

The Cardinals controlled the first half as they struck first and kept the lead the entire way. Kathy Peterson-Ross (Lake Forest, Ill. / Lake Forest) got the Cardinals on the board first with a three followed by a Jadyn Jones jumper. The Cardinals scored back-to-back buckets before Grace Carey made a jumper and made the score 7-4 Cardinals halfway through the first. The Cardinals ended the first with back-to-back buckets as Couture made a three followed by a three from Greek that made the score 17-8 after one quarter of play.

The second quarter saw the Cardinals continue to add to their lead and keep control of the game. Hanson got the Bengals on the board first in the second with a pair of free throws followed by a pair of free throws from Wilson. Greek made a three at the 5:37 mark that made the score 22-12 and extended the Cardinals' lead to double digits. After the Bengals cut into the lead it was Greek again with another three that put the Cardinals up by double digits again. The Cardinals ended the second on a 6-2 run and went into halftime up 31-16 with their largest lead of the game so far at 15.

The third quarter saw the Bengals claw back as they outscored the Cardinals 15-7 and cut the lead to seven at the end of the third. A. Jones opened the third with four straight points followed by a Couture layup that made the score 33-20. An 8-0 run for the Bengals from the 3:55 mark until the 2:50 mark cut the Cardinals lead to single digits and made the score 35-31. Walcott scored the last three points off the quarter and made the score 38-31 Cardinals at the end of the third.

The Bengals made it interesting at the end of the fourth, but the Cardinals made their free throws when sent to the line and closed out the game 55-48. The Cardinals opened the fourth with back-to-back threes from Wilson and Couture. Carey stopped the quick run of the Cardinals with a jumper that made the score 44-33 Cardinals. An and-one at the 5:08 mark from A. Jones cut the Cardinals' lead to single digits and made the score 47-38 Cardinals. With less than a minute to play, the Cardinals lead by five. Couture was intentionally fouled and sent to the line where she made both free throws and put the game away 55-48 Cardinals.