PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - The Plattsburgh State women's basketball team fell on Friday night to the visiting New Paltz Hawks, falling 90-57 in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC). Despite four Cardinal players in double-figures for scoring, a season-high 31 turnovers doomed Plattsburgh, as it lead to 32 New Paltz points.
Imani Walcott (Albany, N.Y./Albany) posted her second double-double in her last three games as the first-year forward scored 10 points and grabbed 11 boards. Izzy Wilbur (Red Creek, N.Y./Red Creek) posted a team-high 12 points, while Payton Couture (Redford, N.Y./Saranac) added 11 and Mya Smith (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) had 10. Brianna Fitzgerald was the game's leading scorer, as the junior poured in 24 points in 23 minutes of action.
Turnovers were the story as the Cardinals struggled to deal with the suffocating New Paltz full-court press. The Hawks produced 20 turnovers in the first half against Plattsburgh, eventually forcing 31 total giveaways, which allowed New Paltz to gain more possessions and attempt 23 more shots. The discrepancy in total shots was a big factor, as the team shot almost identical percentages from the floor, with the Cardinals shooting 39.2% and the Hawks shooting just over 40%. Fouls were a big part of the game as well, with each team consistently getting into the bonus throughout the game evidenced by a 14-24 (58.3%) from Plattsburgh and a 21-27 (77.8%) mark from New Paltz from the charity stripe.
Plattsburgh falls to 8-16 (4-13 SUNYAC) and will play their final game of the season tomorrow, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. on their Senior Day as they take on Oneonta. Seniors Smith, Misa Dowdell (Far Rockaway, N.Y./Scholars Academy), and Kara Oatman (Honeoye Falls, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) will be honored before the start of the game. New Paltz improves their conference-best record to 21-3 (17-0) as they will look to go undefeated in conference play when they take on Potsdam tomorrow at 2 p.m.
The first half was a struggle for the Cardinals as the full-court pressure controlled the game after Jaden Wilson (Johnstown, N.Y./Johnstown) was able to start the game with a three-pointer. Despite the giveaways, Plattsburgh held it close through the first seven-plus minutes, with Wilbur making it a four-point game just under the three-minute mark in the first quarter. A 7-0 run, however, from New Paltz to end the period pushed the Hawks to an 11-point advantage. New Paltz continued to extend their lead through the second quarter, eventually taking a 43-22 lead into halftime.
The third quarter saw the Plattsburgh offense awaken, as they scored 21 points on 8-20 shooting and five made free throws, but they were unable to cut into the deficit as the Hawks scored 25 points in the period as they made 11 free throws. The fourth quarter was more of the same, as New Paltz turned up their three-point shooting with four makes from deep to continue to add to their lead, eventually pulling to a 90-57 advantage for the game's final score.
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