PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Despite a fast start, the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team (11-9, 5-8 SUNYAC) was on the wrong side of an 81-73 decision to the New Paltz Hawks (15-5, 10-3 SUNYAC) on Saturday afternoon.
The Cardinals came out of the gates soaring past the Hawks, leading by as many as nine points in the first quarter. The lead did not last long as New Paltz went on a 7-0 run to cut the Cardinal lead to 15-13. Jasmine Bryant and Kit Small each found the bottom of the net twice in a 7-2 run to close out the first stanza and help the Hawks to a 20-17 lead.
The Hawks kept the pace, while the Cardinals struggled offensively, only scoring 14 second quarter points to New Paltz's 23.
Devona Paul was the lone Cardinal in double figure scoring for the first half with 13 points. Bryant and Small each had 13 and 14 points respectively, at the break.
Plattsburgh State picked up the intensity a bit in the second half, improving to 40% shooting from the floor, and outscoring the Hawks in the third quarter by a margin of 16-12.
What ultimately grounded the Cardinals were fouls. A combined total of 28 fouls were called on Plattsburgh State, of which New Paltz converted on roughly 91% of its free throw attempts, shooting 29-32 from the charity stripe for the contest.
Both the Cardinals and the Hawks saw their greatest production in the fourth quarter, each scoring 26 points.
Small lead all scorers with 27 points, she added seven rebounds and two assists in the winning effort. Bryant chipped in with 19 points including 4-6 shooting from three point range.
Paul and
Stephanie Linder paced the Cardinals, each netting 17 points. Paul added seven rebounds while Linder dished out five assists.
Monique Jones was the only other Cardinal to finish in double figure scoring with 11 points. The Freeport, N.Y. native also grabbed three boards and added four assists.
The Cardinals are in the midst of a five game home stand. They will be home again Friday to host the Cortland Red Dragons at Memorial Hall. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.
