PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Despite outscoring SUNY Cortland 22-15 in the third quarter, the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team fell, 70-45, to the Red Dragons in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action Saturday afternoon at Memorial Hall.
 
The Cardinals relied on a barrage of 3-point shooting to climb back into the game in the third quarter, as they hit six shots from beyond the arc in the period. After Cortland made a pair of free throws to open the second half, sophomore guard Bella DePasquale (Ardsley, N.Y./Ardsley) nailed two 3-pointers to draw Plattsburgh State within 18 at 37-19. Cortland converted on a layup before senior guard Jax Miller (Argyle, N.Y./Argyle) hit a 3-pointer of her own. The two teams traded points until the Cardinals went on a 6-0 tear, and a DePasquale trey closed the gap to 11.
 
Cortland countered with the final four points of the period to lead, 50-35, heading into the final quarter of regulation. The Red Dragons outscored the Cardinals, 20-10, and led by as many as 26 points in the fourth quarter to cruise to the victory.
 
Plattsburgh State drops to 7-7 overall (3-5 SUNYAC) with the loss and next visits The College at Brockport on Friday, Jan. 20, at 7:30 p.m. Cortland rises to 7-8 overall (6-2 SUNYAC) with the win and next visits SUNY Oneonta on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 7:30 p.m.
 
Cortland never trailed in the game, jumping out to a 14-0 lead and holding a 20-5 advantage through the first 10 minutes of play. After the Red Dragons extended their lead to 19 early in the second quarter, Plattsburgh State scored six straight points, and a layup by sophomore guard Anna Thompson (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Spackenkill) made it a 13-point game. Cortland went on an 11-2 run to close the period and entered the locker rooms with a 35-13 edge.
 
The Red Dragons shot 38.3 percent (23-of-60) from the floor on the afternoon and went 88.9 percent (16-of-18) from the line. Plattsburgh State was limited to 25.9 percent (15-of-58) shooting from the field, though the Cardinals did combine for eight 3-pointers. Cortland held a 44-36 cushion in rebounds, while Plattsburgh State committed 20 turnovers to the Red Dragons' 16.
 
DePasquale scored a team-high 15 points, all of which came in the third quarter. Freshman forward Becca Mahon (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Arlington) tallied 11 points—all in the second half—in 16 minutes coming off the bench. Miller dished out a career-high-tying seven assists, while freshman guard/forward Olivia Souky (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna) corralled nine rebounds.
 
For Cortland, senior guard Cassidy Chapko led the way with 23 points, while senior forward Alyssa Crosby added 16. Senior guard/forward Stephanie Rice fell just short of a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.