PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - The Plattsburgh State women's basketball team controlled the entire game over the visiting Fredonia Blue Devils, picking up a 71-60 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) victory on Friday evening. Four Cardinals registered double-figure scoring as the team had their best shooting night of the season with a 42% mark from the field.
Izzy Wilbur (Red Creek, N.Y./Red Creek) was the game's leading scorer, as the sophomore guard was efficient from the field in 31 minutes, shooting 6-10 from the floor and 4-6 from deep. Imani Walcott (Albany, N.Y./Albany) posted a career-high 15 rebounds in the win as she scored 11 points for her third career double-double and also blocked five shots on the evening. Mya Smith (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./ Roy C. Ketcham) and Jaden Wilson (Johnstown, N.Y./Johnstown) each had 12 points for Plattsburgh, with Smith also adding five rebounds and five assists. For Fredonia, Renee Park had a team-high 13 points in 30 minutes of action.
Plattsburgh State put forward their best shooting night of the season on Friday, hitting a season-best 42.6% of their shots. They also shot the ball well from deep, hitting seven threes and shooting at 38.9%. Despite losing the rebounding and turnover battle, the Cards were able to keep their lead throughout with their hot shooting. Fredonia shot a solid 33.8% from the field, but struggled mightily from deep, hitting just 2-19 (10.5%) on their three-point attempts, missing all ten of their attempts in the first half.
The Cardinals improve to 7-15 (3-12 SUNYAC) with the win, and welcome Buffalo State to Memorial Hall tomorrow, Feb. 11, for a 2 p.m. conference contest. Fredonia falls to 5-15 (2-13 SUNYAC) and will take on Potsdam tomorrow, Feb. 11, for a 2 p.m. league game.
The first quarter of play saw the Cardinals come out strong offensively, something they did not do in their first meeting with Fredonia when they scored only three points. This time around, the Cards poured in 24 points, hitting 10-17 shots from the field as well as three three-pointers. Up 14-10 in the first, Wilbur got the ball rolling offensively, connecting on a three-pointer, and then a few possessions later, getting a steal and bucket in transition to put her team up nine. The offense did not relent in the second quarter for the Cards, as they scored the first four points of the period to go up double-digits. Plattsburgh pushed their lead to as high as 19 points in the quarter, but settled for an 18-point halftime advantage, as the half was capped by a Wilbur jumper to put her team up 42-24.
The second half began with Wilson giving the Cardinals their largest lead of the game, connecting on a three-point shot for a 21-point advantage. From then on, Fredonia would provide a good fight, trimming the Plattsburgh lead to 14 points before a Walcott layup and Smith three-pointer helped Plattsburgh moved their lead to 19 points and then 17 entering the fourth quarter after a Caitlin Snyder bucket for the Blue Devils. A 9-0 run to start the fourth, however, brought Fredonia back within single digits, as Park connected on a trey to put the Blue Devils down just eight points. Plattsburgh did not succumb to the strong push from Fredonia, stringing together strong possessions throughout the fourth quarter, not allowing the Blue Devils any closer than seven points down the stretch. Strong defense throughout the final minutes allowed the Cardinals to cruise to a comfortable win, taking the season split with Fredonia.