CANTON, N.Y. – Despite five players reaching double figures, led by junior guard Rosie Sculco (Amsterdam, N.Y. / Amsterdam), the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team fell 78-69 on the road at Canton in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play. Sculco paced the Cardinal offense with a career-high 17 points and added six rebounds, an assist, and a steal.

Junior guard Julia Greek (Long Island, N.Y. / Ward Melville) chipped in 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals in an all-around effort. Senior guard Jaden Wilson (Johnstown, N.Y. / Johnstown) was close behind with 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while sophomore Kayla Johannesen (Hyde Park, N.Y. / Our Lady of Lourdes) contributed 11 points and four rebounds. The last Cardinal to net double figures was senior forward Imani Walcott (Albany, N.Y. / Albany) with 10 points, as she fell one rebound short of the double-double with nine and anchored the paint with two blocks.

For the Kangaroos, Kat McRobbie-Taru led the way with a game-high 20 points to go with five rebounds and a game-high four blocks. Sierra Pabo followed with 19 points and five rebounds, while Kate Grainger recorded a double-double with 14 points, a game-high 10 rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

Overall, for the game, Plattsburgh State shot a solid 35.1% from the floor but had the edge from behind the arc, shooting 34.8%, knocking down eight three-pointers. Canton shot a strong 42.0% from the field, but struggled from the three-point line, shooting 16.2%. Canton had a small edge in rebounds (51-47), but it was Plattsburgh with a narrow 7-6 advantage in second-chance points. The points off turnovers battle was close, as well, as Canton finished with nine and the Cardinals eight.  

The first quarter was as back-and-forth as it gets, as a Greek layup gave the Cardinals a narrow 6-4 lead with 6:58 to go. Canton scored six straight points to take a 10-6 lead before back-to-back three-pointers from Johannesen tied it at 12 with 3:53 left, and the teams entered the second quarter tied at 14.

Canton opened the second quarter on a quick run and took a 20-14 lead, but the Cardinals netted back-to-back baskets and made the score 20-18 with 4:05 remaining. Another run by Canton stretched the Kangaroos' lead to 26-18, but the Cardinals closed the gap with a Sculco three-pointer at the buzzer and trailed 32-27 going into halftime.

Straight out of the break, the Cardinals answered with four points to make the score 32-31 Kangaroos, but Canton stayed in control, scoring back-to-back layups to make the score 39-33 at the 6:15 mark. A 5-0 burst, capped off by a Sculco three-pointer, tied the score at 45, but Canton responded in turn and took a 52-47 lead into the fourth quarter.

A Greek layup got the scoring started for Plattsburgh in the fourth, and a jumper from Sculco made the score 59-54 as Plattsburgh still trailed halfway through the quarter. The Cardinals kept fighting, but once Canton extended its lead to double digits, the game slipped out of reach in a 78-69 loss.

With the loss, Plattsburgh State drops to 7-3 (2-1 SUNYAC) and next travels to Oswego State tomorrow, Jan. 10, for a 2 p.m. tip-off.