PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Down by just two points with just six seconds remaining, the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team was dealt a crippling blow by an ill-timed turnover before the Cardinals saw a last-second three-ball by Stephanie Linder bounce off the iron in a 60-58 non-conference setback to Norwich University in Memorial Hall on Wednesday night.
Outside of the final 6:22, the Cardinals (1-2) trailed the Cadets (2-1) just once – for a period of 1:22 in the first half to be exact. Neither team shot particularly well from the field, as the Cardinals (19-of-63, 30.2-percent) edged out the Cadets (18-of-60, 30-percent) in that category.
In addition to losing the battle on the scoreboard, though, Plattsburgh State was out-rebounded by a 52-41 margin by their Vermont rivals. Of Norwich's final 13 points in the non-conference battle, all but three were scored from the charity stripe and each marker save four through that stretch was pumped in by the Cadets' Aliah Curry who finished with a game-high 23 points.
Curry would open the scoring with a painted area jumper, but Brittany Marshall and Jax Miller banged back-to-back long balls to put a charge into the Plattsburgh State faithful and give the home squad a 6-2 lead 2:22 into things.
Trouble reared its head early on for the Cardinals in the form of the official's whistle as junior post player Devona Paul was hit with a pair of personal fouls in the first 4:20 of the ballgame. Minutes later, sophomore Jessica Dolan received two citations for fouls which left Plattsburgh State with little choice but to try and formulate an effective game plan from outside the key to secure the win.
It appeared as though the scheme was working when the Cardinals opened up a 15-8 edge with 7:41 remaining in the opening stanza. An 8-0 run which culminated with a mid-range splashdown from Jax Miller was all the offense Plattsburgh State could muster for 4:19, though.
Their lead dwindling down to a mere two points after a Tory Kethro jumper and a three-point hit from Shyann Josler, the Cardinals called on Allie Taylor – who was making her first start at an NCAA institution – to right the ship.
The junior out of Hannibal, N.Y., accounted for the next six points for Plattsburgh State and helped the home squad close out the half on a 9-6 surge.
Heading into the last 20-minute period of the night, the Cardinals felt as though their luck had begun to change for the better. Although Kayla Mercer slung in five points for the Cadets, Plattsburgh State pushed right back and pushed its edge to eight points (34-26) on the strength of a downtown swish by Marshall.
Norwich, though, continued to resist the Plattsburgh State scoring onslaught and trimmed the Cardinals' advantage to one on four occasions before the Cadets retook the lead for the first time since 13:05 in the first half. Mercer drilled a step-back three-pointer with 6:21 to go, setting up a frantic fight to the finish for both clubs.
The vast majority of the action during the final stages of the game occurred from the foul stripe, but Plattsburgh State freshman Shawna Thornton plundered the rock from Curry and sunk a fast-break layup to knot things at 47-all as 5:45 shone on the clock.
With that, though, Plattsburgh State found itself almost unable to buy a basket. The Cardinals finished the game with a 1-for-6 showing from the field and committed six turnovers in the closing minutes.
Facing a 54-49 deficit with 2:36 to go, the Cardinals stormed back to take the lead by employing a 7-0 run which was cued by a Misha Green jumper in the paint. Green, a senior, put the finishing touches on the surge with a make at the free throw line to put the Cardinals up 56-54 with 46 ticks to go.
Mercer, though, played the role of the hero for the Cadets on the ensuing possession. Her three-point attempt with 31 seconds remaining was right on target, and after a highly questionable turnover call by the officials on the next Plattsburgh State trip down the floor, Curry hit three free throws in the final 18 seconds to close things out.
The Cardinals hit 16 of their 20 attempts at the charity stripe (80-percent), but were a woeful 4-of-22 (18.2-percent) from long range.
Marshall recorded a team-high 15 points for the Cardinals while Taylor added 12. Linder put forth a well-rounded effort of nine points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists in the loss.
Mercer added 15 for the Cadets while Heather LeBlanc pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds.
The road beckons to the Cardinals once again, but not before Plattsburgh State takes a basketball hiatus of nearly two weeks. On Tuesday, Dec. 2, the Cardinals will see how they stack up against Liberty League and North Country nemesis St. Lawrence University. Tip-off in Canton, N.Y., is scheduled for 6 p.m.
