PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's basketball team once again came up with a big third quarter, outscoring The College at Brockport by a 27-18 margin in the frame, but the Cardinals dropped a 66-51 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) decision to the Golden Eagles on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Hall.
 
The Cardinals shot a blistering 69.2 percent (9-of-13) from the floor and 75 percent (6-of-8) from the line in the third quarter, but the Golden Eagles' defense clamped down the rest of the game, limiting Plattsburgh State to 26.2 percent (16-of-61) shooting from the floor on the afternoon. Brockport, meanwhile, shot 41.5 percent (22-of-53) from the field and knocked down 77.3 percent (17-of-22) of its free throw shots. The Golden Eagles claimed a 48-33 edge on the glass.
 
Plattsburgh State falls to 4-7 overall (1-3 SUNYAC) with the loss and next visits SUNY Potsdam on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 5:30 p.m. Brockport rises to 5-6 overall (2-2 SUNYAC) with the win and hosts Buffalo State next on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 5:30 p.m.
 
After Brockport took a 2-0 lead, Plattsburgh State scored five consecutive points, and a layup by senior guard/forward Taylor Durnin (Lyon Mountain, N.Y./Northern Adirondack) staked the Cardinals to a 5-2 advantage. The Golden Eagles countered with a 12-1 spurt, seizing a 14-6 lead with 49 seconds left in the first on a jumper by freshman guard Erin Radack. Junior guard Hanna Whitney (Keene, N.Y./Keene Central) nailed a 3-pointer for the Cardinals and junior guard Zaria McCullough hit two free throws for the Golden Eagles to provide the 16-9 score in favor of Brockport through 10 minutes of play.
 
Brockport continued to build its lead in the second quarter, with junior guard Julianna Taylor converting on a layup to extend the Golden Eagle advantage to 15 with 1:59 left in the frame to hand Brockport its largest lead of the stanza. Freshman guard Kanesha Strider (Long Island, N.Y./Longwood) hit a 3-pointer with 1:10 left, while Taylor beat the halftime buzzer with a trey of her own to hand the Golden Eagles a 32-17 cushion at the intermission.
 
Durnin and McCullough traded 3-pointers to start the third, and Brockport constructed a 15-point differential two more times before the Cardinals answered with a six-point run that included four points from sophomore guard/forward Kelly Degnan (Irvington, N.Y./Irvington). While the Golden Eagles brought the lead back out to 11, junior guard Theresa Quinn (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) drained a 3-pointer and Whitney made all three free throws on a three-shot foul to pull the Cardinals within 44-39. The two teams traded baskets before a free throw by Brockport's sophomore forward Allison Chiera with 12 seconds remaining in the quarter staked the visitors to a 50-44 margin.
 
After freshman forward Riqiya Harris cashed in on a layup for Brockport on the first possession of the fourth quarter, Degnan made a pair of free throws to whittle the deficit back to six. The Golden Eagles scored seven unanswered points to take a double-digit lead and led by as many as 17 points down the stretch.
 
Quinn and Durnin led the Cardinal offense with 17 and 13 points, respectively, while Degnan tallied nine points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists in 29 minutes coming off the bench. Senior forward Taylor Clare (Peekskill, N.Y./Peekskill) finished with six rebounds and two blocked shots to aid Plattsburgh State both on the boards and defensively.
 
For Brockport, Taylor led the way with 18 points, while Chiera posted a 12-point, 14-rebound double-double. Sophomore forward Kylee Rosbrook also reached double figures with 10 points.