FREDONIA, N.Y. – After outscoring the Blue Devils 25-13 in the third quarter thanks to strong shooting from the three-point line, the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team cruised to a 68-54 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) win over Fredonia on Friday evening. Junior center Imani Walcott (Albany, N.Y. / Albany) was the catalyst on the offensive end for the Cardinals scoring 18 points to lead all players as well as grabbing seven rebounds and recording two blocks.

Selma Deisz (Bekkestua, Norway / Nadderud VGS) was strong from the three-point line, shooting 4 of 7 as she recorded all 12 of her points from the three. Payton Couture (Redford, N.Y. / Saranac) was also in double figures for the Cardinals with 10 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Julia Greek (Long Island, N.Y. / Ward Melville) and Jaden Wilson (Johnstown, N.Y. / Johnstown) both contributed nine points while Greek led all players in assists with five to go with three rebounds and Wilson had two rebounds and two assists. Kathy Peterson-Ross (Lake Forest, Ill. / Lake Forest) led all players in rebounds with eight while contributing four points, a steal, and a block.

For the Blue Devils, Jayssa Snelick led her team in scoring with 13 points. Allie Wandell also reached double figures with 12 points and was tied for the team lead in rebounds with five. Grace Alexander led the team in assists with four.

The Cardinals were very efficient on the day, shooting 50.0% from the field and 40.7% from the three knocking down 11 of 27 while the Blue Devils only shot 28.1% from the field and 23.5% from the three while knocking down eight three-pointers. The Cardinals won the battle on the glass pulling in 35 rebounds while the Blue Devils had 26 and had 12 second-chance points compared to the Blue Devils' five. The Blue Devils won the turnover battle and picked up 17 points off turnovers while the Cardinals only had four.

Plattsburgh State rises to 6-4 (2-1 SUNYAC) with the win and is back in action tomorrow, Jan. 11 at Buffalo State with a 1 p.m. tip-off. Fredonia falls to 4-6 (1-3 SUNYAC) with the loss and next hosts Potsdam tomorrow, Jan. 11.

Wilson knocked down a three-pointer at the 8:09 mark to start the scoring followed by a Fredonia three-pointer. The Cardinals quickly responded with back-to-back baskets from Couture and Greek that made the score 7-3 Cardinals at the 7:06 mark. Midway through the quarter, a layup from Walcott pushed Plattsburgh's lead to 11-6, however, Fredonia cut into the lead scoring back-to-back baskets. Nearing the end of the quarter a jumper from Alexys Neckers gave Fredonia their first lead of the game at 14-13. That Neckers' layup started a 7-0 run to end the quarter for the Blue Devils and made the score 19-1 after one quarter of play.

Kaylyn Sweeney opened the scoring in the second knocking down a jumper followed by a 5-0 burst from Plattsburgh that made the score 21-18 Blue Devils at the 7:01 mark. The Blue Devils held a slight lead but after a three from Kyla Smith pushed their lead to six three straight three-pointers for Plattsburgh from Kayla Johannesen (Hyde Park, N.Y. / Our Lady of Lourdes), Deisz, and Lauren LaFountain (Saratoga Springs, N.Y. / Saratoga Springs) gave the Cardinals a 29-26 lead at the 2:25 mark. After Fredonia came within one, the Cardinals scored four straight points to end the second and made the score 33-28 Cardinals at halftime.

The Cardinals' offense was great in the third quarter powered by strong shooting at the three-point line, shooting 83.3% which started quickly as Deisz knocked down a three-pointer to start the quarter at the 9:42 mark followed by a layup from Wandell. The three-point shooting continued as Wilson and Greek knocked down back-to-back threes that put the Cardinals ahead 42-30. The Blue Devils responded with a three-pointer of their own from Smith however the Cardinals knocked down back-to-back three-pointers again this time from Wilson and Deisz and pushed their lead to 48-33 at the 5:05 mark. The Cardinals continued to shoot well and went into the fourth quarter with a 58-40 lead.

While the Blue Devils slightly outscored the Cardinals 13-10 in the fourth quarter the deficit was too much to come back from as the Cardinals cruised to the win. It started with a Peterson-Ross layup followed by a three-pointer from Couture that made the score 63-41 and gave the Cardinals their largest lead of the game at 22. Midway through the fourth quarter four straight points from Snelick cut into the Cardinal's lead but it was another three from Deisz that put the Cardinals back ahead by 20 plus points. The Blue Devils made a late push scoring the last seven points, but the game was out of reach as the Cardinals won 68-54.