ONEONTA, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's basketball team fell 61-59 to Oneonta on the road in a close battle in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action on Friday night. Senior forward Imani Walcott (Albany, N.Y. / Albany) paced the Cardinals with a game-high 21 points to go along with 13 rebounds and a game-high three blocks for a double-double on the night.

Senior guard Jaden Wilson (Johnstown, N.Y. / Johnstown) turned in a solid performance with 11 points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Kayla Johannesen (Hyde Park, N.Y. / Our Lady of Lourdes) chipped in eight points, three assists, two steals, and a rebound. Kathy Peterson-Ross (Lake Forest, Ill. / Lake Forest) and Kaelyn Morgan (Chateaugay, N.Y. / Chateaugay Central) each recorded a block, while Peterson-Ross and Meredith Bush (Gouverneur, N.Y. / Gouverneur) added a steal apiece.

For the Red Dragons, Carlie Young led the team in scoring with 18 points and four rebounds. Lidia Boucher also reached double figures with 14 points, added six rebounds, and tied for a game-high four steals with Megan Desrats, who contributed six points and eight rebounds.  

Plattsburgh State had the better shooting night, hitting 38.3% from the field compared to Oneonta's 30.7%, but the Red Dragons held the advantage from beyond the arc, making five three-pointers. In a tight rebounding battle, the Cardinals edged Oneonta 46-45, yet the Red Dragons made the most of their opportunities, scoring 16 second-chance points to Plattsburgh's nine. Oneonta also controlled points off turnovers, outscoring Plattsburgh 19-2.

Early in the first quarter, both teams were knotted at 2 before a 7-0 run led by Wilson put the Cardinals ahead 9-2 at the 7:02 mark. Plattsburgh held the advantage for most of the quarter, and although the Red Dragons closed to within a point, the Cardinals pushed their lead to 18-15 on a late three-pointer by Wilson.

A quick four points to start the second quarter cushioned the Cardinals' lead to 22-15, but after scoring five straight points, the Red Dragons tied the score at 24 with 3:53 remaining. Walcott gave the Cardinals a 26-24 edge, but Oneonta answered by jumping out to a 30-26 lead, and after the teams traded baskets, the game was knotted at 32 going into halftime.

Out of the break, the teams traded leads as Oneonta went up 34-32 at the 9:37 mark before Plattsburgh pulled ahead, 40-39, on a Walcott layup with 3:44 to go. The lead see-sawed throughout the third quarter, with both teams deadlocked again at 42 going into the fourth quarter.

The Red Dragons took control in the fourth quarter, building a 53-45 lead with 7:46 remaining, but Plattsburgh rallied to pull within two with 1:23 left. The Cardinals came within one on multiple occasions, but Oneonta converted timely free throws down the stretch as Plattsburgh fell, 61-59.

With the loss, Plattsburgh State drops to 9-6 (4-4 SUNYAC) and is back in action tomorrow, Jan. 24, when the team travels to New Paltz for a 2 p.m. tip-off.