PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Despite leading, 27-23, at halftime, the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team was unable to overcome a big third quarter by its opponent in a 59-54 loss to non-conference Middlebury College on Tuesday evening at Memorial Hall. It served as the Cardinals' final home game of the 2016-17 season.
 
Middlebury won the game with a decisive 22-7 advantage in the third quarter despite being outscored in the other three periods. While Middlebury never trailed in the fourth quarter, Plattsburgh State mounted a comeback and eventually made it a one-possession game.
 
Plattsburgh State cut into an 11-point deficit with a 3-pointer by freshman guard Brooke Benna (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) and a layup by junior guard/forward Hope Cerasuolo (Johnstown, N.Y./Johnstown) early in the fourth quarter to draw within six at 47-41. While Middlebury ballooned its advantage back to 10 midway through the period, sophomore guard Bella DePasquale (Ardsley, N.Y./Ardsley) answered with a 3-pointer to trim the gap to single digits. Following a Panther layup on the next possession, the Cardinals netted six straight points, and a 3-pointer by Cerasuolo made it a three-point game (56-53) with 2:08 remaining.
 
After each team came up with a defensive stop, Middlebury extended its lead to 59-53 following a 3-pointer by freshman guard/forward Lily Kuntz with 57 seconds left. While the Cardinals missed a pair of free throws, they ended up getting the ball back following a foul on a missed shot with 13 seconds to go. Cerasuolo made the first to pull Plattsburgh State within five, but the second fell into the hands of Middlebury. The Panthers missed both shots from the line after getting fouled, and Cerasuolo came down with the board to give the Cardinals another chance with nine seconds left in regulation. The Panthers corralled the rebound on a missed Plattsburgh State 3-pointer, however, and ran down the clock to escape with the victory.
 
Plattsburgh State drops to 10-13 overall with the loss and next visits SUNY New Paltz on Friday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m. Middlebury rises to 17-7 overall with the win and hosts Colby College in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Tournament quarterfinals next on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m.
 
The Cardinals controlled the momentum early, jumping out to a 13-5 lead following a basket by freshman forward Frannie Merkel (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster). The Panthers countered with nine unanswered points to take a 14-13 advantage, but senior guard Moe Jones (Freeport, N.Y./Freeport) converted on a layup with 52 seconds left in the first quarter to give Plattsburgh State a 15-14 lead through one quarter of play.
 
Middlebury held the upper hand in the early stages of the second quarter, but the Cardinals ended up going on an 8-2 surge to claim a 27-21 cushion. Freshman forward Maya Davis knocked down a pair of free throws for the Panthers with 35 seconds left in the period, however, to cut the deficit to 27-23 heading into halftime.
 
With three changes to the starting lineup to start the second half, Middlebury had the right mix of players on the floor to score the first 15 points of the third quarter and take an advantage it would not relinquish the rest of the evening. While the Panthers led by as many as 15 points in the stanza, freshman forward Taylor Clare (Peekskill, N.Y./Peekskill) hit a pair of free throws and Cerasuolo cashed in on a layup to pull the Cardinals within 11 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Clare and Cerasuolo led Plattsburgh State with 11 points apiece, with Cerasuolo's being a career-high total off the bench. Senior guard Jax Miller (Argyle, N.Y./Argyle) distributed six assists and added six points to the Cardinals' cause.
 
For Middlebury, sophomore guard Colleen Caveney and Davis tied for the game-high in points with 12 apiece, with Davis' total coming in reserve action. Freshman guard Kira Waldman added 11 points off the bench.