Box Score PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Some of the finest writers would have been hard-pressed to pen a better script than what was laid out for the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon.

This once-in-a-lifetime account had a little bit of everything: high stakes, a chance at history and the recognition of some of the finest players to ever put on the Plattsburgh State uniform.

It even included a perfect ending. The ending, though, has gone and set up what could be the beginning of an even greater tale.

Behind game-highs in points (24) and rebounds (14) by senior Kathleen Payne as well as a career-high 23 points from sophomore Devona Paul, Plattsburgh State demolished Buffalo State 94-68 in a winner-take-all SUNYAC bout for the regular season championship as well as SUNYAC Championship Tournament hosting rights on Saturday afternoon in Memorial Hall.

As they have done all season, the Cardinals managed to topple a few more program records along the way. This squad becomes the first Plattsburgh State women's basketball team to reach the 20-win plateau and in the second half Payne succeed former Cardinal Jana Rhude as the all-time leading rebounder in the history of the program.

Rhude's career record of 718 boards had stood since the 2000-01 season, and in her career Payne has now snared some 726 rebounds. Payne is the proud owner of two other Plattsburgh State records: most career points in program history (1,654) and most points in a single season (501). By accumulating her 24 points on Saturday, Payne became the first Plattsburgh State women's basketball player – and just the ninth Cardinal ever – to pour in 500 or more points in a single season.

As a team, this edition of the Cardinals became the first to capture a regular season SUNYAC championship and earn the right to host the SUNYAC Championship Tournament.  

The win came thanks to some impressive shooting numbers by the Cardinals, who finished the game with a 30-of-61 (49.2 percent) mark from the field and a 28-of-35 (80 percent) showing from the charity stripe.

On her own, Paul finished 17-of-20 from the foul line while the Bengals were 10-of-12 as a team from that particular distance.

The afternoon started with a senior day ceremony which honored the many contributions of Tequilla Lloyd, Payne and Brooke Reifinger. Once it came to a close, the battle was indeed on. 

Buffalo State countered the Cardinals' perimeter speed and athleticism with their bruising post players in the early stages of the dramatic game. Seniors Bianca Smiley and Ashley Wallace combined to score the first eight points for the visiting squad, but the Cardinals used a heavy dose of Payne early on to keep it close.

The Goshen, N.Y., product gave her squad its first edge of the game by sinking a jumper in the painted area which made matters 14-13 with 13:49 remaining in the opening stanza. That field goal set off a lengthy stretch of back-and-forth play which saw the lead change hands on no less than 11 occasions.

With 8:06 left in the initial frame, Staci McElroy drilled a pair of free throw attempts which gave the Bengals a 25-22 lead before Paul almost single-handedly gave the Cardinals the lead for good.

Employing some nifty post moves, the Blauvelt, N.Y., forced the Bengals to try and handle her down in that area, but that simply resulted in the visitors getting whistled for foul after foul. Paul scored 10 of the next 12 Cardinals points, and her final two kicked off a 15-0 surge which elicited a mighty roar from the pro-Plattsburgh State congregation.

Focusing intently on shutting down the Cardinals' post game, the Bengals allowed the perimeter to open up. Making them pay were Reifinger, Brittany Marshall and Payne who laced a triple each during the decisive stretch before Marshall sprinted the length of the court for a fast-break layup to put the Cardinals up 47-28 with 2:05 remaining in the half.

Demoralized and at a loss for answers, the Bengals faded away even faster in the final 20 minutes. Plattsburgh State was absolutely ruthless in their dismantling of Buffalo State, shelling the Bengals with an 18-4 surge to open up a 75-48 lead with 12:48 to go.

As three-pointers from Stephanie Linder and Jax Miller drew more cheers from the crowd, the Cardinals knew with each made field goal and with each minute that ticked away that it was just meant to be.

Misha Green, Linder and Reifinger each added seven points for the Cardinals who limited the Bengals to a 27-of-70 shooting clip (38.6 percent). McElroy scored a game-high 24 points for the Bengals while Smiley (14) and Wallace (11 points, 10 rebounds) also starred for the visitors. 

On Friday night at 8 p.m., the Cardinals will host the first home playoff game in the history of their program. Plattsburgh State will face the winner of the Tuesday night Oneonta State/SUNY Cortland clash in the second semifinal game of the SUNYAC Championship Tournament. The night will begin with Buffalo State taking on the winner of the SUNY Geneseo/Fredonia State quarterfinal game at 6 p.m.

Keep checking GoCardinalSports.com throughout the week to get the most up-to-date information regarding the 2013-14 SUNYAC Championship Tournament.