BOXSCORE

Sophomore Sarah Alwardt (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) scored 18 points with a career-high 16 rebounds as The College at Brockport's women's basketball team defeated Plattsburgh 67-59 Friday night inside Brockport's Jim and John Vlogianitis Gymnasium.

 

Sophomore Ellen Story (Catskill, NY/Catskill) added 16 points and 11 rebounds and junior Rachel Csakany (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) scored 12 points for Brockport (5-14 overall, 3-9 SUNYAC). The Golden Eagles outscored Plattsburgh (6-12, 3-9) 39-28 in the second half to earn the win.

 

“It couldn't have come at a better time. It's do-or-die to us,” Alwardt said afterwards. “I think everyone knows that right now we need to play our best basketball, and we are. … We responded inside (on the glass). Ellen and Rachel went to work and they were there on the defensive and offensive end, rebounding like they are supposed to, getting good numbers."

 

The Golden Eagles trailed by as many as eight, 18-10, in the first half before going on a 17-10 run to pull within one, 28-27, with 3:22 remaining in the half.

 

Plattsburgh (6-12, 3-9) took a 31-28 lead into halftime, and the Cardinals extended their lead to 41-33 with 12:52 remaining before Brockport staged a rally. Story scored six points and junior Desiree Fauvelle (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley) drained a three-pointer, part of a 13-3 Golden Eagle run that saw Brockport pull ahead, 46-44 with 7:38 remaining.

 

The Golden Eagles clinched the win by making 13 of their final 14 free throws, led by Alwardt, who went 6 for 6 down the stretch, and 8 for 8 overall at the foul line.

 

With the win, Brockport pulls into a seventh-place tie in the SUNYAC with Plattsburgh. The top eight teams qualify for the SUNYAC postseason tournament.

 

“I think it was almost a must-win for our team,” said Nicole Beauregard, Brockport's third-year head coach. 

 

“We knew coming in it was going to be a dogfight, they're a very talented and well-coached basketball team. We knew we had to battle for forty minutes, and I was proud of our girls for fighting through adversity and coming together through tough times."

 

Brockport returns to action at 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon, when Potsdam visits the Jim and John Vlogianitis Gymnasium.