PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – In a physical contest that saw both teams combine to attempt 67 free throws, the Oswego State women's basketball team (9-8, 4-6 SUNYAC) absorbed an 81-58 loss to Plattsburgh (7-9, 4-6 SUNYAC) Friday night at Memorial Hall.  Five Cardinals reached double figures, including Kathleen Payne, who scored a game-high 23 points to go along with ten rebounds.

Plattsburgh established an early 12-2 lead, but a pair of jumpers by Meagan Stover (Jr., Lake George, N.Y.) and a three-pointer from Paula Egelston (So., Fultonville, N.Y.) pulled Oswego State to within three points. However, the Cardinals regained a double-digit lead midway through the first half after Kayla Ryan (Sr., Schaghticoke, N.Y.) checked out of the game with her third personal foul.

Following Ryan's exit, Kassie Kleine (Jr., Cazenovia, N.Y.) dialed up a three to spark the Lakers to score nine straight points in under two minutes to make the score 21-20. The home team responded by going on a 16-2 run to push its advantage to 15 points with 3:55 left to play in the half. Egelston sank a pair of free throws before the break, as Oswego State went into intermission trailing 44-29.

Both squads traded treys at the start of the second half before a Ryan free throw cut the deficit to 14 points three minutes into the frame.  However, that would be as close as the Lakers would get as the Cardinals pulled away for the win.

Ryan and Lauren Nunziato (So., West Sand Lake, N.Y.) paced Oswego State with nine points apiece, while Ryan also contributed seven rebounds.  The Lakers finished the game shooting 25.5 percent from the field (14-for-55), but converted 23 of 31 free throw attempts. 

Payne was joined in double figures by Lindsey Larivee with 14, Brittany Marshall with 12, and Catherine Cassidy and Kerri Salisbury with 10 each.  The Cardinals went 26-of-65 from the floor (40.0 percent) in addition to going 25-for-36 from the charity stripe.

Oswego State looks to get back into the win column Saturday afternoon against Potsdam.