PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Fighting for State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) playoff contention, the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team (11-10, 5-9 SUNYAC) came up short against the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons (14-8, 9-6 SUNYAC), 69-66 on Friday night at Memorial Hall.
 
The Cardinals started the contest strong. Cortland scored the opening basket before Plattsburgh State went on a 9-0 run and led by as many as 10 points in the first quarter. Devona Paul's 12 first quarter points helped the Cardinals to a 17-15 lead entering the second.
 
Plattsburgh State again started the second quarter on fire. Jax Miller hit from beyond the arc twice and Meghan Strong added a shot from downtown to bring the Cardinal lead up to as many as nine points in the second.
 
However, Cortland's Kristy Vitucci finished the first half strong, bringing the Red Dragons to within three before Stephanie Linder hit a three pointer with four seconds left to give Plattsburgh State a 34-28 lead at the break.
 
The Red Dragons picked up the slack in the second half, slowly crawling at the Cardinal lead and taking a lead of their own on a Caysea Cohen three-pointer with 5:38 left in the contest. It would prove to be the last lead change on Friday night. Cortland received 12 points off the bench and added nine points off Cardinal turnovers in the fourth quarter.
 
Despite leading for the majority of the game, the Cardinals were outscored 41-32 in the second half of play.
 
Paul led all scorers with 24 points. The Cardinal senior added 11 rebounds and four assists, while also shooting a perfect 12-for-12 from the free throw line.
 
Plattsburgh State's Jax Miller tallied 12 points, while Misha Green chipped in with 11 points and seven rebounds.
 
The Red Dragons' Cohen poured in a team high 22 points. Vitucci finished with 12 points while Cassidy Chapko scored 11 and added five assists.
 
The Cardinals next game will be Saturday at 2 p.m. in a SUNYAC  tilt with the Oswego State Lakers.