Oneonta closed the game on a 21-7 run and was aided by hot shooting in the second half. The Red Dragons shot 58 percent in the half, 14-for-24, and 52 percent for the game. Meanwhile Plattsburgh struggled from the floor, shooting just 20-for-61, 33 percent, in the game, including 10-for-32 in the second half. After closing what was a deficit of 11 to just one, the Cardinals hit just two field goals in the final 6:43 of the game.

Kerri Salisbury led the Cardinal offense with 12 points in 19 minutes off the bench on 4-for-10 shooting. Nora Campbell was the second-leading scorer, dropping eight points. Campbell and Catherine Cassidy each had six rebounds to lead the team.

Rebecca Bucci stole the show for Oneonta. She recorded 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the floor, nine rebounds and seven assists — all game-highs. Kristin Pappalardo contributed 13 points while Samantha Szkotak has 12. As a team, the Red Dragons dished out 20 assists and also had 10 steals.

The Cardinals trailed by just four going into halftime, despite shooting just 34.5 percent in the first half. But the Red Dragons expanded that four-point lead, outscoring the Cardinals by 11 to go on to the win. After taking over the lead with 10:20 remaining in the first half, the Red Dragons never surrendered it.

With the win, the Red Dragons move on to face No. 3 New Paltz in the tournament semifinals. New Paltz defeated No. 6 Oswego in the quarterfinals, 69-54. Oneonta is 20-6 on the year.

The Cardinals’ season ends with a record of 8-17 after making their second SUNYAC tournament appearance in the past three years. Seniors Taylor Amarando and Nora Campbell see their careers come to end with the loss. Campbell’s 53 blocks in 2010-11 are the third-highest single-season total in Plattsburgh history. Amarando finishes her career with 1,004 points, putting her in sole possession of sixth place on the Plattsburgh all-time scoring list.