PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's basketball team opened State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play with a 61-51 win over Fredonia on Friday night at Memorial Hall. The Cardinals had two players in double figures, led by senior forward Imani Walcott (Albany, N.Y. / Albany) with 13 points, five rebounds, two blocks, and two steals.

Senior guard Jaden Wilson (Johnstown, N.Y. / Johnstown) notched double figures as well with 12 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Junior guard Julia Greek (Long Island, N.Y. / Ward Melville) orchestrated the offense, dishing out a game-high six assists while adding nine points and four rebounds. Sophomore forward Kaelyn Morgan (Chateaugay, N.Y. / Chateaugay Central) contributed seven points and three rebounds, while senior forward Kathy Peterson-Ross (Lake Forest, Ill. / Lake Forest) led the team with 10 rebounds.

For the Blue Devils, Grace Alexander led the team offensively with 11 points and four rebounds, while Payton Gilbert led the team on the defensive end with a game-high four steals to go with six points and four rebounds.

Overall, for the game, Plattsburgh shot a solid 34.5% from the floor and 25.9% from behind the arc compared to the Blue Devils, who only shot 25.3% from the field and 18.8% from the three-point line. The Cardinals had the edge in rebounding (51-47) and added two second-chance points, while Fredonia had five second-chance points. The Cardinals lost the turnover battle and only recorded 12 points off turnovers, while Fredonia had 20.

The Blue Devils opened the scoring in the first quarter, but Plattsburgh didn't take long to respond as Wilson knocked down back-to-back three-pointers and made the score 6-4 Cardinals at the 6:25 mark. After Fredonia tied the score at 7, a quick 5-0 burst courtesy of Greek put the Cardinals ahead 12-7 as they entered the second with a 12-9 lead.

Five straight points by the Blue Devils gave Fredonia the momentary lead, but the Cardinals countered with a 9-0 run led by Kayla Johannesen (Hyde Park, N.Y. / Our Lady of Lourdes) that made the score 21-14 at the 5:52 mark. The Blue Devils trimmed the lead to five, but Walcott put in a layup and gave Plattsburgh a 28-21 lead at halftime.

Plattsburgh widened its lead in the third quarter after a 7-0 surge pushed its lead to double digits and made the score 37-24 at the 7:12 mark. The Cardinals remained in control, as a Meredith Bush (Gouverneur, N.Y. / Gouverneur) three-pointer at 3:05 made the score 42-26 and stretched the lead to 16 before they entered the final quarter up 44-33.

The Cardinals maintained a double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter and took their largest lead of the game at 18 when Walcott knocked down two free throws that made the score 58-40 at the 4:04 mark. Samantha Calahan (Highland, N.Y. / Highland) capped off the scoring for Plattsburgh as the Cardinals walked away with a 61-51 victory in their conference opener.

With the win, Plattsburgh State rises to 5-2 (1-0 SUNYAC) and will be back in action tomorrow, Dec. 6, when the team hosts Buffalo State for a 2 p.m. tip-off. Fredonia falls to 4-2 (0-1 SUNYAC) and next travels to Potsdam tomorrow, Dec. 6.