Boxscore & Play-by-Play
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — Kathleen Payne and Taylor Amarando both surpassed 20 points and Plattsburgh State had its highest offensive output of the season Saturday against Cortland but the Cardinal defense could not slow down the State University of New York Athletic Conference’s highest-scoring offense as the Red Dragons came away with a 91-80 win at Memorial Hall.
Amarando finished the game with 24 points on 10-for-19 shooting while Payne ended with 23 points. Payne was also the team’s leading rebounder, grabbing nine boards.
After finding themselves down by 11 late in the first half, the Cardinals went into the locker room facing a six-point deficit. Payne gave Plattsburgh a three-point lead when she nailed a trey 5:29 into the second half. But that was the last lead for the Cardinals as Molly Byrne, Brittany Cohen and Jennifer Patten took over for the Red Dragons.
The three combined for 45 of Cortland’s 54 second-half points as the Red Dragons exploded for what was at one point a 20-point advantage. Cohen led all scorers with 28 points. Byrne pitched in with 23 points and Patten had 14, 12 of which came in the second half. Payne scored 16 of her 23 in the second half for the Cardinals.
As a team, the Red Dragons shot 56.8 percent, 21-for-37, in the second half and 47.9 percent in the game. Plattsburgh also shot more than 50 percent in the second half, going 19-for-37.
With the win, the Red Dragons improve to 17-4, 12-3 in the SUNYAC and extended their winning streak to six games. The Cardinals fall to 6-15, 3-12 in conference play, as they have dropped eight straight.
Before the game, Plattsburgh seniors Amarando and Nora Campbell were honored in their last home game for Plattsburgh. Campbell leads the SUNYAC in blocks this season — her first full season of competition as a Cardinal. Amarando has climbed through the Plattsburgh record books in her four seasons, ranking in the top 10 in scoring with 963 points and rebounds with 592.
The Cardinals travel across the North Country to square off against Potsdam Tuesday, Feb. 15. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
