Box Score NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Every member of the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team had their eyes on Friday night's SUNYAC clash at New Paltz. After all, the Cardinals were a little more than eager to take it to the Hawks after suffering a trio of painful losses to the NCAA Tournament squad a year ago – the last of which knocked them out of contention for the SUNYAC championship.

While the Cardinals did pick up the emotional victory, it was a much more hard-fought than many may have suspected.

Plattsburgh State survived a season-high 26 turnovers by getting some clutch baskets down the stretch in a 67-60 triumph over New Paltz at the Hawk Center. Junior Brittany Marshall led the way with a game-high 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting while Kathleen Payne added a 16-point 15-rebound double-double.

By obtaining the victory, the Cardinals improve to 9-3 and 4-1 in league play while the Hawks continue their downward spiral, falling to 2-11 and 0-6 in SUNYAC bouts.

Sprinting out of the gates against the defending SUNYAC champions, the Cardinals called on some fine interior play to give them a double-digit lead early on. The post tandem of Devona Paul and Misha Green contributed four points apiece to a 10-0 opening surge for the visitors.

Plattsburgh State's defense was just as effective as its offense as it forced four New Paltz turnovers and a 0-for-6 mark from the field for the Hawks. Nearly five minutes had expired before the home squad was able to register a successful offensive possession as Goldie Harrison knocked down a mid-range jumper with 15:06 remaining in the frame to put the brakes on the Cardinals' opening salvo.

With that make, the Hawks were able to settle into their offensive groove. Stephanie Linder and Brittany Marshall each converted layup attempts into points to put the Cardinals' advantage at 14-5 before the home squad embarked on a sizable scoring blitz of its own.

By knifing through Plattsburgh State's interior defense and capitalizing on their chances at the charity stripe, the Hawks used a 10-0 spurt of their own to secure their first lead of the SUNYAC tilt, 15-14, with 11:05 to go in the initial frame.

Continuing the trend of exchanging runs, it was the Cardinals' turn to pile up the points as Linder drilled a triple after banking in a close-range shot to lead her squad on a 9-0 offensive crusade. Still unfazed, the youthful New Paltz squad continued to push for an upset by using a 17-7 run in the last 8:56 of the first stanza.

Five separate student-athletes netted markers for the Hawks during the lengthy stretch, including Ashley Riefenhauser who sank a pair of long-range baskets. Helping the Cardinals stay afloat during the rough stretch was senior Kathleen Payne who contributed a layup and a pair of free throws to the Plattsburgh State's cause.

Green would knot matters at 30 each after sinking a layup with 1:25 left in the half, but Shannah Walker allowed her squad to enter the halftime break with a 32-30 lead thanks to her jump shot with 1:07 showing on the clock.

Much like what transpired in the first half, the Cardinals were able to put some distance between them and their league adversaries during the infancy of the deciding frame. Fast break scores were the ingredients of a 12-4 run by the visitors in the first 6:51 of the half as Green, Marshall and Payne each scored layups of that variety during the stretch.

Sporting a 42-36 lead, the Cardinals allowed the Hawks to regain the lead on the strength of a 9-0 run. Kit Small capped off the 3:50 scoring surge with a pair of makes at the free throw line. That woeful span saw Plattsburgh State go 0-for-8 on their field goal tries and cough up the ball on three occasions.

Not willing to let the Hawks come out on top once again, Marshall shot the Cardinals back into the thick of things. The reigning SUNYAC Player of the Week rattled off the next seven points for the visiting squad, canning a pair of three-point buckets and adding a make at the free throw stripe to put Plattsburgh State up 49-47 with a shade over 6:00 to go.

One final charge by the Hawks saw them take a 54-51 lead with 4:03 showing on the game clock. Small and Courtney Irby perpetrated the run by netting all seven New Paltz points.

Finally, the Cardinals were able to put the Hawks away thanks to some well-timed baskets by Green. The New Rochelle, N.Y., product flicked in a layup, and after a free throw make by Walker, put the Cardinals up 57-55 with a jumper thanks to a great pass from Marshall.

With 2:39 to go, the Cardinals would never trail again, and it was Marshall and Payne who closed things out. Another long-range hit by the Malone, N.Y., product gave Plattsburgh State a 62-57 lead with 1:49 to go, and Payne put in six of her final seven free throw attempts to batten down the Cardinals' fourth consecutive triumph.

Green (12) and Paul (11) also posted double-digit evenings for the Cardinals who shot 40.4 percent (23-of-57) from the field. Small and Irby threw in 16 and 14 respectively for the Hawks.

The latest win by the Cardinals sets up a pivotal mid-season matchup between Plattsburgh State and Oneonta State on Saturday afternoon. The squads are currently in a tie for second place in the league standings, and the Red Dragons will surely be looking to earn a measure of revenge against the Cardinals who defeated them in the SUNYAC Championship Tournament quarterfinals last season. The conference bout is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.