PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Despite a double-double performance from junior center Imani Walcott (Albany, N.Y. / Albany), the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team dropped a close contest against St. Lawrence in non-conference action falling 64-60 at Memorial Hall. Walcott led all players in scoring and rebounding with 19 points and 10 rebounds for her second double-double on the year and added three blocks as well.

Another strong contributor for the Cardinals tonight was senior guard/forward Payton Couture (Redford, N.Y. / Saranac) who had 17 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three blocks. Sophomore guard Julia Greek (Long Island, N.Y. / Ward Melville) added seven points, five assists, and four rebounds. Lauren LaFountain (Saratoga Springs, N.Y. / Saratoga Springs) and Jaden Wilson (Johnstown, N.Y. / Johnstown) both recorded six points while LaFountain added two rebounds and an assist and Wilson three bounds, an assist, a steal, and a block.

For the Saints, both Caelan McHarney and Annie Perry reached double figures with 10 points each. Desiree DuBois led the team in rebounding with seven and McHarney and Mason Baker-Schlendering both had two assists.

While the Cardinals shot a solid 40.3% from the field and the Saints 37.3%, the difference came from the free throw line where the Saints were 76.9% and the Cardinals only 44.4%. The rebounding numbers were close as the Cardinals had a slight edge of 37 to 36. Both teams recorded double-digit turnovers, but the Saints got 20 points off turnovers while the Cardinals only had 11.

Plattsburgh State falls to 2-2 with the loss and plays their final home game of 2024 on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. as they host the Clarkson Golden Knights. St. Lawrence moves to 4-0 with the win and heads to the Westfield Gas and Electric Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Nov. 22 with a matchup against Wellesley College at 7:30 p.m.

Greek opened the first quarter with a three just five seconds in followed by a layup which made the score 5-0 Cardinals. McHarney got the Saints on the board after a steal led to a layup and made the score 5-2 Cardinals. After a layup from Elizabeth Flynn at the 7:28 mark neither team scored until the 5:41 mark as Couture sliced through the lane for the layup and made the score 9-4 Cardinals. A 7-0 run for the Cardinals from the 3:01 mark until the 1:22 mark led by four points from Walcott made the score 19-8 Cardinals. The Saints responded with five points to end the first and made the score 19-13 after one.

The Saints opened the second quarter with four straight points and came within two with over eight minutes to play in the quarter. Selma Deisz (Bekkestua, Norway / Nadderud VGS) finally got the Cardinals on the board at the 7:19 mark followed by a jumper from Walcott that made the score 23-17 Cardinals with over five minutes to go. After a three from Jackie Malley and two made free throws from Perry, the Saints took their first lead of the game 29-28 before LaFountain cashed in on a three and made the score 31-29 Cardinals at the 2:59 mark. After an offensive rebound for the Saints led to a McHarney layup to end the second, both teams went into halftime tied at 33.

The third quarter saw back-to-back baskets for the Cardinals to start before the Saints went on a 7-0 run that made the score 40-37 Saints at the 5:37 mark. Back-to-back jumpers from the Saints extended their lead to 50-42 before Couture responded with a layup that made the score 50-44 Saints at the end of the third quarter.

A Plattsburgh 4-0 burst opened the fourth quarter bringing them within two however a layup plus the foul from Dubois made the score 53-48 Saints at the 7:26 mark. A 10-0 Saints run from the 6:59 mark until the 4:02 mark extended their lead to double-digits. The Cardinals responded with a 10-0 run of their own and made the score 63-60 but ultimately fell 64-60.