PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – After a close game at the end of the fourth, the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team holds on to beat Potsdam 49-45 for their third straight State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) win. The Cardinals were led by Payton Couture (Redford, N.Y. / Saranac) with 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists. The team had three players in double figures including Couture. 

Selma Deisz (Bekkestua, Norway / Nadderud VGS) and Mya Smith (Wappingers Falls, N.Y. / Roy C. Ketcham) were the other Cardinals in double figures as Deisz had 11 points and three rebounds and Smith had 10 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Imani Walcott (Albany, N.Y. / Albany) contributed seven points, four rebounds, and three blocks. Jaden Wilson (Johnstown, N.Y. / Johnstown) had five points and five rebounds.

For the Bears, Jakia Howard led her team in points with 12 to go along with six rebounds. Jenna Cotter and Barbara Bruno both had 10 points as Cotter collected five rebounds and Bruno eight. 
 
Overall, neither team shot the ball well, with Plattsburgh shooting 29.2% and Potsdam 31.6%. Both teams missed four free throws as the Cardinals were 14-18 shooting 77.8% and the Bears 7-11 shooting 63.6%. The Cardinals kept their lead by hitting seven three-pointers and shooting 50.0% from the three while Potsdam was able to stay in the game due to 22 Cardinal turnovers from which they got 17 points. The Cardinals had a small edge in rebounds as they won 38-37. 
 
Plattsburgh rises to 6-5 overall (3-2 SUNYAC) and will be back in action this Friday, Jan. 12 as they host Brockport for a 5:30 pm tip-off. Potsdam falls to 5-6 overall (1-4 SUNYAC) and will be back in action as they host Geneseo for a 5:30 pm tip-off. 
 
The first quarter was a close affair as it was within a couple possessions. The Bears started the first with a layup from Mikayla Shipley followed by a Couture three. With a little over five minutes to play both teams exchanged three-pointers that made the score 8-7 Cardinals. That three-pointer started an 8-0 Cardinal run from the 4:52 mark until the 2:52 mark. Carley Hill ended the run with a jumper that made the score 13-9 Cardinals at the end of the first. 
 
The Cardinals led the entire second quarter and extended their lead to seven. Jakia Howard got the second started with a layup for the Bears. Deisz got the Cardinals on the board with a layup and then followed that up with a three that made the score 18-12 Cardinals. Howard later followed Deisz's three with one of her own. With less than three minutes to play both teams exchanged buckets as Couture and Bruno both made layups that made the score 21-18 Cardinals. Couture closed the quarter with four straight points that extended the Cardinals' lead and as they went into halftime up 25-18. 
 
The third quarter was a low-scoring affair as the Cardinals scored eight and Potsdam 10. The third started scoreless for the first couple of minutes until Kathy Peterson-Ross (Lake Forest, Ill. / Lake Forest) got the Cardinals on the board with a made free throw followed by a layup from Walcott that started a 6-0 Cardinal run. With over five minutes to play, Jenna Cotter got the Bears on the board with a layup that made the score 31-20 Cardinals. The Bears ended the third with a 10-2 run that made the score 33-28 Cardinals. 
 
The fourth quarter saw the Bears outscore the Cardinals by one and come within one point but the Cardinals held on for the win. Howard started the fourth with a layup followed by two Smith threes and a Julia Greek (Long Island, N.Y. / Ward Melville) three that made the score 42-30 Cardinals. With over seven minutes to play Howard made a layup that ended the Cardinal run. The Cardinals were held scoreless as the Bears went on a 9-0 run that made the score 42-39 and cut the Cardinals lead to three with less than four minutes to play. With a little over a minute to play Shipley made a jumper that cut the Cardinal lead to one. Smith then made two clutch free throws that put the Cardinals back up by three and made the score 44-41. Xy'El Bradford made two free throws that made the score 45-43 Cardinals and put the game back within one possession. Deisz was sent to the line and made both of her free throws that put the Cardinals ahead by four, but Howard made a layup that cut the lead to two and made the score 47-45. Smith was sent to the line where she made both of her free throws and put the game away as the Cardinals won 49-45.