Box Score PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Everyone who has ever lived has had one of those days where absolutely nothing goes right.

For the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team, Friday just happened to be that day.

The Cardinals found it near-impossible to slow down SUNY Cortland's red-hot offense and solving the Red Dragons' tough defense proved to be an equally tough assignment as the home squad dropped a 78-51 decision on Friday night in Memorial Hall.

It was just the first home setback of the 2013-14 campaign for Plattsburgh State (16-5, 11-3 SUNYAC) which shot just 31.1 percent (19-of-61) from the field and a dismal 5-of-23 (21.7 percent) from beyond the three-point arc.

Senior Kathleen Payne – who registered game highs in points (21) and rebounds (10) – gave her team its sole lead of the night when she sunk a long ball which made matters 3-2 with 1:33 in the books. Directly after the hit from distance by the Goshen, N.Y., product, Grace Williamson knocked down a short jumper in the painted area which triggered a 7-0 surge by the Red Dragons.

Erin Wolstenholme contributed the remaining five markers during the spurt with a jumper and SUNY Cortland's first of 12 three-point baskets.

On four occasions in the initial 20-minute frame, the Cardinals were able to close within one point, but each and every time the Red Dragons put the kibosh on the home team's plans to take the lead with an offensive response of their own.

Payne's third three-point knockdown of the half made it a 24-23 ballgame with 10:52 to go in the half, but Phoebe Byrnes answered back with a deep step-back long range hit of her own to push Cortland's lead right back to four points on the ensuing possession.

The Cardinals' efforts to catch up with the Red Dragons were, unfortunately, halted after Devona Paul rattled in a short jumper to bring Plattsburgh State within a pair, 29-27, with 6:50 remaining in the half. Embarking on a 14-0 surge over the next 6:16, the Red Dragons were able to put some considerable distance between them and the Cardinals.

Frantically searching for any form of offense which would solve the swarming, high-energy defense put up by the visitors, the Cardinals tried their hand at any number of shots from all locations on the floor. Instead, a 0-for-9 performance from the field and five turnovers were what the Cardinals got in return from that woeful stretch.

 Payne finally closed the SUNY Cortland floodgates with a mid-range swish with 34 seconds to go in the frame, but the Cardinals were left at a sizable 43-29 disadvantage entering the halftime strategy session.

Unable to regroup, Plattsburgh State saw their deficit grow to as many as 27 points in the deciding frame. In the final 20 minutes of action, Plattsburgh State connected on just seven of their 28 field goal attempts (25 percent) and one of their nine tries from downtown (11.1 percent).

Aside from Payne's 21, Brittany Marshall was the only other member of the Plattsburgh State squad who reached the double-digit territory in points as the junior netted 10 while passing out a game-high six assists.

Williamson poured in 18 points to pace the Red Dragons while Megan Touhey netted 17. Wolstenholme rounded out the well-balanced scoring effort with 13 points and 10 rebounds. During the game, SUNY Cortland shot 26-of-63 (41.3 percent) from the field and a blistering 12-of-27 (44.4 percent) clip from three-point territory.

Looking to forget about Friday's mishap, the Cardinals will return to action on Saturday afternoon when they host Oswego State in their annual Play 4Kay game. The pink-laden SUNYAC tilt is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.