PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's basketball team fell at home Tuesday evening against Potsdam. After trailing by double digits heading into the fourth quarter, the Cardinals' comeback fell short as they fell to Potsdam 60-53 in State University of New York (SUNYAC) play. The Cardinals had a balanced offensive game as three players registered in double-figures in the loss as they split the season series with Potsdam.

Imani Walcott (Albany, N.Y. / Albany) led all scorers with 18 points to go with 10 rebounds and recorded her seventh double-double of the season and second in a row. First-year guard Selma Deisz (Bekkestua, Norway / Nadderud VGS) had a career-high 12 points, going 4-5 from the three, and picked up two rebounds. Payton Couture (Redford, N.Y. / Saranac) was also in double figures with 10 points to pair with her three rebounds and three assists. Kathy Peterson-Ross (Lake Forest, Ill. / Lake Forest) was dishing out dimes as she led the Cardinals in assists with four and was also on the boards as she grabbed five rebounds.

For the Bears, Xy'El Bradford led the team with 17 points. Jenna Cotter and Barbara Bruno were also in double figures with 11 and 10 respectively.

The Cardinals only shot 35.6% from the field while the Bears shot 43.4% but the Cardinals did make more threes making 5 of 20 at 25.0% compared to the Bears 2 of 9 at 22.2%. Both teams had nearly the same amount of turnovers with the Cardinals taking the edge 14-15 and both teams getting 13 points off turnovers. The Bears slightly outrebounded the Cardinals 37-34 and had more second-chance points with 14 to the Cardinals 8.

Plattsburgh moves to 7-11 overall (4-8 SUNYAC) and will be back in action this weekend on Friday, Feb. 2 as they take on Oswego State with a 5:30 pm tip-off. Potsdam moves to 7-11 (3-9 SUNYAC) and will be back in action on Friday, Feb 2. as well as they host Cortland for a 5:30 pm tip-off.

The Cardinals got out to an early lead as Walcott scored the first four points before Bradford made a layup and made the score 4-2 Cardinals. Cotter tied the game halfway through the first on a layup that made the score 7-7. After a 10-0 run from the 2:24 mark until the end of the first, the Bears closed the quarter up 17-11.

The Cardinals struck first in the second as Couture made a free throw followed by a layup from Cotter. With less than six minutes to play the Bears extended their lead to double digits on a three from Zavia Jaime that made the score 26-15. The lead got to as high as 15 but a layup to end the quarter from Walcott cut the lead to 13 and made the score 32-19 at halftime.

Walcott scored back-to-back as she opened the third with four straight points until Jakia Howard made a layup that made the score 34-23. The Cardinals cut the lead to nine on a jumper from Walcott at the 9:00 mark and again on a layup from Walcott at the 8:12 mark. The Bears stretched their lead back to double digits and closed the third up 45-31.

The fourth saw the Cardinals outscore the Bears 22-15 but fall short of the comeback. Bruno opened the fourth with a jumper followed by a Jaime three. The Cardinals responded with six straight points that made the score 50-37 Bears with less than seven minutes to play. After three's from Deisz and Couture the Cardinals made the score 58-51 and cut the lead to seven with less than two minutes to play. After free throws from Walcott, the Bears led 58-53 and held on to win 60-53.