CORTLAND, N.Y. - Cortland led 21-6 after one quarter and was never seriously threatened as the Red Dragons defeated visiting Plattsburgh, 74-46.
Cassidy Chapko (Valley Falls/Hoosic Valley) scored 22 points to lead Cortland (9-11, 8-5 SUNYAC). The Red Dragons are in fifth place in the league standings, a half game behind fourth-place Fredonia (9-5) and a game behind third-place New Paltz (9-4). Plattsburgh dropped to 9-11 overall and 5-9 in the SUNYAC and is currently in seventh place, a game behind Brockport (6-8).
Chapko finished 7-of-16 from the field and 6-of-7 from the foul line. Alyssa Crosby (Brier HIll/Hammond) totaled 10 points and eight rebounds and tied her career high with four assists. Kristy Vitucci (Deer Park) scored nine points off the bench, and Danielle Levine (Holbrook/Sachem North) finished with eight points (3-for-3 field goals), eight rebounds and three steals.
Joka Oyefeso (Staten Island/Port Richmond) hit all three of her shots and finished with six points and two blocked shots. All six of her points came in the second quarter to help Cortland extend its lead. Kerry McHugh (Highland Mills/Monroe-Woodbury) added five points and three assists.
Brooke Benna scored 15 points and grabbed four rebounds for Plattsburgh. She made three 3-pointers. Bella DePasquale also hit three treys and ended with 12 points and nine rebounds, and Jax Miller dished out four assists.
Cortland led 14-6 with three minutes to go in the first quarter and scored the final seven points to take a 15-point lead. The Red Dragons continued to hold the Cardinals scoreless over the first five and a half minutes of the second quarter to take a 34-6 lead.
Plattsburgh cut its deficit to 20 at 41-21 at halftime and was within 17 points in the final minute of the third quarter. Levine's 3-point play 15 seconds into the fourth quarter put Cortland ahead by 21, and the margin remained in the 20's the rest of the game.
Cortland will host Potsdam Saturday at 4 p.m. The Red Dragons' four seniors - Chapko, Crosby, Levine and Stephanie Rice (Duanesburg) - will be honored right after the men's game, which precedes the women's contest.