OSWEGO, N.Y. – Not in love with the idea of a four-game losing streak, the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team was in need of a big-time team performance in order to right the ship in time for the SUNYAC playoffs.

On Saturday afternoon in Oswego, it got one.

Stephanie Linder knocked down a clutch jumper in the final minute to terminate an comeback attempt by the Lakers and Devona Paul came up with a monstrous 21-point, 15-rebound double-double to help the Cardinals outlast the Lakers 66-61 in Max Ziel Gymnasium.

The win, coupled with a loss by Fredonia State, put the Cardinals (10-12, 7-8 SUNYAC) one-and-a-half games ahead of the Blue Devils for the sixth and final SUNYAC playoff spot heading into the final week of the regular season.

Another inspired effort on defense was another reason behind the Cardinals' important win. Plattsburgh State held the Lakers (8-15, 6-10 SUNYAC) to a 27.5-percent (19-for-69) showing from the field and out-rebounded their SUNYAC enemies 56-42. Misha Green was a force on the glass again, snaring 13 caroms including nine on the offensive end.

Allie Taylor and Jax Miller pumped in 17 and 10 points respectively for the Cardinals who play next on Tuesday night at SUNY Potsdam. The SUNYAC tilt is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Oswego State jumped ahead by as many as five points in the early stages of the game, but the downtown shot was the Cardinals' weapon of choice to jump back into the lead. Shanielle Chambers and Green each splashed a trifecta to end an 8-0 run and put the Cardinals on top 13-10 with 11:45 to go in the first.

Miller joined the long ball party with a swish of her own, extending the Plattsburgh State lead to 18-12 at the midway point of the half, but an 8-0 Oswego run which also utilized the three-pointer to great effect put the home team ahead 20-18 with 7:25 left in the half.

With that, Paul and Taylor forced control of the game back to the Cardinals' corner. The duo scored all but six points during an 18-5 Plattsburgh State run to finish the half.

A comfortable 36-25 lead was what the Cardinals had to protect through the final 20 minutes and their were able to do so despite a madcap rally attempt by the home team. Lexi Gillard's three-point bomb just inside of the 12-minute mark of the frame pulled Oswego State within one, 46-45, but Taylor put a stop to the Lakers' antics with a layup and a downtown knockdown as part of a 7-0 Cardinal run.

The Lakers, though, weren't done yet, as Alison Nunziato canned two free throws with 1:23 to go which made the Cardinals' lead just 61-60. Linder, though, came through with her mid-range jumper with 53 ticks left and Miller hit three of four attempts from the charity stripe to secure the Cardinals' win.

Alisha Jacobs and Mary Mazzella scored 13 and 12 points respectively while Rachael Windhausen hauled down 14 rebounds in the Lakers' losing effort.