PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's basketball team was unable to keep pace on the boards with the defending State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) champion, SUNY New Paltz, Saturday, as the Cardinals fell, 72-41, in conference action on Senior Day at Memorial Hall.
 
Prior to the start of the game, the Cardinals honored their two seniors, guards Moe Jones (Freeport, N.Y./Freeport) and Jax Miller (Argyle, N.Y./Argyle), for their contributions to the program.
 
New Paltz finished with a commanding 59-29 edge in rebounds, with 25 of the Hawks' boards coming on the offensive glass. The Hawks also shot 32.9 percent (23-of-70) from the floor on the afternoon. Plattsburgh State, meanwhile, shot 25.5 percent (13-of-51) from the field.
 
Plattsburgh State falls to 9-10 overall (5-8 SUNYAC) with the loss and next visits SUNY Cortland on Friday, Feb. 3, at 7:30 p.m. New Paltz rises to 11-7 overall (8-4 SUNYAC) with the win and opens up a seven-game homestand to close the season on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. when it entertains Mount Saint Mary College.
 
New Paltz never trailed in the game, scoring the first eight points of the contest before freshman forward Taylor Clare (Peekskill, N.Y./Peekskill) and Jones put the Cardinals on the board with back-to-back baskets. Clare trimmed the deficit to two with a made jumper with 3:37 left in the period, but the Hawks countered with six straight points to mount an eight-point advantage. Though Clare knocked down a pair of free throws to cut the gap to one, New Paltz hit a free throw on the ensuing possession to take a 15-8 lead, which it would carry into the second quarter.
 
The Hawks scored the first four points of the second off a pair of jumpers by freshman forward Paige Niemeyer, but the Cardinals made it a seven-point game by retaliating with two free throws by junior guard/forward Hope Cerasuolo (Johnstown, N.Y./Johnstown) and a layup by freshman guard/forward Olivia Souky (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna). New Paltz found its rhythm in a 15-6 run to close the second quarter, though, and took a 34-18 lead into the locker rooms.
 
New Paltz built upon its lead in the second half, kicking off the third quarter with what wound up being a game-clinching 15-3 scoring spree. The Hawks led by as many as 36 points in the fourth quarter, though the Cardinals did close the game on an 11-6 surge.
 
Clare led Plattsburgh State with 12 points off the bench, while Cerasuolo added a career-high eight points, also in reserve duty.
 
For New Paltz, freshman guard Sandi Harris, Niemeyer and senior guard/forward Kit Small keyed the attack with 14 points apiece, while freshman guard Marion Dietz grabbed 10 rebounds.