NEW PALTZ, N.Y. - Despite a furious fourth-quarter run and comeback, Plattsburgh State fell to SUNY New Paltz on Saturday afternoon in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action 74-60. The team shot 10-20 from the field in the fourth period, nearly matching their previous three quarters field goal total, but could only make up three points of a large lead that the Hawks had built. 

First-year forward Imani Walcott (Albany, N.Y./Albany) posted her second career double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Cardinals, while first-year guard Kortney McCarthy (Peru, N.Y./Peru) added 12 points, shooting 4-8 from the floor. Mya Smith (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) and Izzy Wilbur (Red Creek, N.Y./Red Creek) each had ten points for Plattsburgh in the losing effort. Brianna Fitzgerald posted 16 points and 12 boards for the Hawks as the game's high-scorer while Maddie Gillis had 15 points off the bench for New Paltz. 

The fourth quarter boosted Plattsburgh's overall shooting marks from the field, as they finished at 37% from the floor, but struggled from the free throw line, only making 13 of 23 (57%) attempts from the charity stripe. New Paltz shot the ball at a 41% clip, making seven three-pointers in the game while making 15 of 22 free throws. The Hawks were able to separate themselves by forcing 19 Cardinal turnovers and turning them into 22 points.

The Cards drop to 3-5 and 0-3 in SUNYAC play with the loss and will match up with Middlebury on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 5:30 for their next matchup. New Paltz moves to 5-3 with the win and will next play on Dec. 9 out in western New York to face Fredonia. 

The Hawks took control of the game early against Plattsburgh, jumping out to an 8-0 lead and then a 13-2 lead within the first five minutes, forcing four Cardinal turnovers in that span. The Cards were able to jumpstart their offense soon after, though, pulling to within 20-12 to end the period, but wouldn't pull closer than seven points for the remainder of the half. At the break, Plattsburgh trailed 34-23 and was only able to knock down eight of their 29 shots (27%) from the field in the first half. 

After an 18-12 third quarter, favoring the Hawks, New Paltz led 52-35 over the Cards. Heading into the fourth, New Paltz held a 30-16 advantage on points in the paint, but Plattsburgh flipped the script in the fourth, catching fire and scoring 18 points in the paint to the Hawks' six. After the Hawks took a 60-39 lead, Plattsburgh pulled to within eight points, going on a 17-4 run, as Walcott knocked down two free throws to make the score 64-56 with 1:50 left in regulation. Over the final near two minutes of action, however, New Paltz was able to close out the Cards, knocking down their free throws to win 74-60.