CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Cortland women's basketball team never trailed and slowly pulled away in the second half to defeat visiting Plattsburgh, 54-38, in a SUNYAC contest.
 
Cortland (17-3, 12-1 SUNYAC) remained a half game behind New Paltz (13-1 conference) in the league standings with the win. The Red Dragons, who are tied for 24th in the latest WBCA Division III poll and the first "others receiving votes" team in the D3hoops.com poll, will host Potsdam Saturday at 2 p.m. on Senior Day.
 
Sam Dembinsky (Wallkill) and Jackie Funk (Penfield) led Cortland with 12 points apiece. Dembinsy hit 5-of-8 shots and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Funk finished with five rebounds. Brooke Tillotson (Marathon) ended with seven points, seven rebounds and three steals, Kaeli McAnally (Islip) hauled in six rebounds and Joleen Lusk (Cherry Valley/Cherry Valley-Springfield) led the team with three assists.
 
For Plattsburgh (12-8, 7-6 SUNYAC), Imani Walcott registered eight points, five rebounds and four blocked shots. Rosie Sculco netted eight points and Julia Green finished with six points, five assists and three steals.
 
Cortland held a 12-7 lead after one quarter, was up 20-9 with 3:52 left in the second quarter and took a 24-15 advantage into the locker room at halftime. Plattsburgh was within seven on three occasions in the third quarter, but the Red Dragons pushed their lead to 38-27 entering the fourth and led by as much as 17 points in the final period.
 
Cortland won despite shooting 35 percent overall and 24 percent from 3-point range (4-of-17) while committing 15 turnovers. The Red Dragons, however, made 14-of-16 free throws and held the Cardinals to just 33 percent shooting overall and 1-of-14 (seven percent) from 3-point range.