BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's basketball team used a stout defensive effort on Friday evening to down the Bengals of Buffalo State 71-45 in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play. The win marks the third straight for the team and the second straight SUNYAC win, as the Cardinals have opened the new year with a 3-0 start. 
 
Senior guard Mya Smith (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) led the way scoring-wise, posting 16 points on 4-8 shooting from the field, knocking down two three-pointers while also making six of eight free throw attempts. First-year Jaden Wilson (Johnstown, N.Y./Johnstown) had her second double-figure scoring output of the year, posting 12 points on 5-7 shooting, knocking down two of four three-pointers. Payton Couture (Redford, N.Y./Saranac) and Kortney McCarthy (Peru, N.Y./Peru) each had nine points, with Couture also pulling down eight rebounds and grabbing two steals, while McCarthy had seven boards and two steals as well. For Buffalo State, Brianna Smith had 11 points and six boards to lead the Bengal effort.
 
Overall, the Cardinal's defense was strong throughout as they hold the Bengals to 21.1% shooting from the field, but it was especially strong in the second half, as Buffalo State shot just 15% and missed all 16 of their three-point attempts. Plattsburgh also shot the ball very well, with a 40% clip and seven three-point makes while making 18-26 free throws (69%). The team shot their best in the fourth quarter, as they were 7-14 from the field and 11-14 from the charity stripe, outscoring the Bengals 28-12 in the period. 
 
The Cards improve to 6-8 overall with the win and are now 2-5 in league play. They will matchup tomorrow, Jan. 14, with Fredonia at 2 p.m. in the Dods Hall Gymnasium. The Bengals fall to 1-13 overall and sit at 0-8 in conference play, as they will look to get back in the win column against Potsdam on Jan. 14 at 2 p.m.
 
The first half was a relatively close affair, as the Cards led by just two points at the halftime break. Plattsburgh took a seven-point lead early in the first quarter as Couture hit a jumper to put her team up 10-3 at the 5:35 mark. Three-pointers, however, would keep Buffalo State in the game early, as their poor shooting was overshadowed by five three-point makes that kept them close to the Cards through the end of the second quarter, with the score showing 26-24 on the halftime scoreboard. 
 
In the second half, Plattsburgh's defense remained strong, and their offense exploded, eventually leading to the team building a large double-digit lead throughout the final two quarters. The Cards first began to separate from the Bengals as Buffalo State struggled to make shots, going nearly six minutes between makes in the third quarter as Plattsburgh built a nine-point lead and went up 43-33 heading into the final period of play. In the fourth, the Cardinal offense was clicking on all cylinders, as Smith scored five quick points to push the lead to 15 and a McCarthy three put the team up 17 after a Bengal free throw. The strong defense from Plattsburgh continued as Buffalo State struggled to get any sort of offense going, allowing Coach Ben Sarraf to clear his bench, which did not slow the offense down any bit. The Cards' bench scored 18 points in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Bengals 32-12 overall, helping the team to build their big lead and eventual 26-point win, with the final score being 71-45.
 
Misa Dowdell (Far Rockaway, N.Y./Scholar's Academy) added a season-high five points on three free throw makes and one field goal while Alexis Belrose (Lyon Mountain, N.Y./Northern Adirondack) scored her first collegiate points, making three of her four free throw attempts. Senior Kara Oatman (Honeoye Falls, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) registered her first point of the season, as she knocked down a free throw in the final period of play.