NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Despite leading for three quarters the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team fell 56-50 to New Paltz Friday night inside Hawks Center.  

Plattsburgh State drops to 6-12 overall and 5-7 in the SUNYAC while New Paltz moves to 11-7 and 7-4 in the conference.

The Cardinals led 10-2 halfway through the first quarter but the Hawks made four free throws to cut the lead to four points.

Freshman guard Theresa Quinn (Cromwell, Conn. / Cromwell) put in a layup but New Paltz made three free throws and a jumper to come within one. Quinn ended the quarter with two free throws to give the Cardinals a 14-11 cushion heading into the second quarter.

New Paltz out-scored Plattsburgh State 10-9 in the second but the Cardinals maintained the lead and headed into halftime up 23-21.

Junior guard Anna Thompson (Poughkeepsie, N.Y. / Spackenkill) started the third quarter off with an old fashioned three-pointer, making the layup and getting the free throw after a Hawks foul to take a five point edge.

The Hawks tied the game 26-26 then took a three point lead after going on an eight point run.

Plattsburgh State tied it 29-29 with a three-pointer from sophomore guard/forward Taylor Durnin (Lyon Mountain, N.Y. / Northern Adirondack) and another three by junior guard/forward Bella DePasquale (Ardsley, N.Y./Ardsley) gave them a three point advantage.

New Paltz cut the lead to one point but a three from DePasquale, a layup by Durnin and a free throw from Thompson ended the quarter and put Plattsburgh State up 40-33 heading into the final quarter.

The Cardinals took their largest lead of nine points three minutes into the fourth after a jumper from Thompson and a layup by Quinn.

Unfortunately New Paltz out-scored Plattsburgh State 23-10 in the fourth tying the game 46-46 with 2:58 remaining and took a one point edge with 2:06 left.

Sophomore forward Frannie Merkel (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster) made two free throws to give the one point edge back to the Cardinals but the Hawks put in a jumper followed by five free throws to end the game and take the six point win.

Thompson led the Cardinals with 13 points, DePasquale had nine and Durnin also had nine and added six assists while Merkel picked up a team high of 10 rebounds.

Plattsburgh State visits SUNY Oneonta on Saturday to continue SUNYAC play with a 1 p.m. tip off.