CORTLAND, NY - The Cortland women's basketball team used a 19-2 run throughout the second quarter to turn a first-quarter deficit into a comfortable 67-41 victory over Plattsburgh on Saturday afternoon in Corey Gynamsium. Cortland has now won five straight contests, moving to 5-1 (2-0 SUNYAC), while Plattsburgh drops to 4-3 (1-1 SUNYAC).
 
Joleen Lusk (Cherry Valley/Cherry Valley-Springfield) was a force inside for Cortland, leading the Red Dragons with a season-high 19 points on 9-for-16 shooting. She also added six rebounds. Brooke Tillotson (Marathon) and Bella Zingoni (Kings Park/Long Island Lutheran) each had eight points, while Sophie Bissaillon (East Greenbush/Columbia) had five points and six rebounds.
 
Payton Couture had 13 points to lead Plattsburgh in scoring, and Jaden Wilson added nine points, including both of Plattsburgh's 3-pointers.
 
Cortland held Plattsburgh to 15-for-42 from the field (35.7%), as well as 2-for-17 from distance (11.8%).
 
The teams traded baskets throughout the opening quarter, with the score tied three times and the largest lead of the frame at just three points. Couture's jumper with 22 seconds left gave Plattsburgh a 15-13 lead after one quarter.
 
The Red Dragons dominated the second quarter, scoring the first 11 points that included six points by Lusk, a 3-pointer by Lily Woodis (Dewittville/Chautauqua Lake), and a jumper by Kayla Campbell (Franklin/Franklin Central).
 
After a Plattsburgh basket broke the run, Cortland scored the final eight points, capped by a steal and layup from Haley Potenza (East Aurora) in the final seconds to make the score 32-17 at halftime. 
 
Cortland extended the lead to as many as 26 in the third quarter, and although the Cardinals were able to reduce the deficit to 15 with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Red Dragons quickly re-established a 20-point advantage, and baskets by Abby Sheehan (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa), Katie Boyd (Red Hook), and Sam Dembinsky (Wallkill) in the fourth quarter helped to secure the victory.