Plattsburgh State celebrates 50th anniversary of women's basketball program

PLATTSBURGH | On Saturday, Nov. 16, prior to the women's basketball game against Utica, Plattsburgh State athletics celebrated the 50th anniversary of the women's basketball program. The event honored the following alumnae invited to attend: Mya Smith (2023), Frannie Merkel (2020), Steph Linder (2017), Devona Paul (2016), Brittany Marshall (2015), Misha Green-Yotts (2015), Kathleen Payne (2014), Laura Phillips (2007), Rene Klementowski (2006), Athena DiLorenzo-Ryan (2005), Sarah Jensen (2005), Nicky Viti-Duprey (2002), Katie Castine-Terry (2000), Kerry Chapin-Lavigne (1998), Carrie Frederick-McComb (1998), Desiree Peart (1990), Donna Dixon (1989), Anne Slattery (1984), Linda Byrne-Luguri (1977), Emily Jones-Pleau (1969) and Joan Swan (1967). Varsity women's basketball began NCAA competition at Plattsburgh State with the 1974-75 season. Prior to that, the college had an active women's basketball club, beginning with the 1966-67 squad that was coached by the late Phoebe Sturm, a Plattsburgh State athletics Hall of Famer. Sturm was the longtime coach of the Cardinals, coaching the team from 1974 to 1996, accumulating 158 wins and a Coach of the Year award in 1987. She was followed by Erin Griffiths, who coached the team for one season before Cheryl Cole took over the team in 1997. Cole coached until 2020, wrapping up her 24-year head coaching career at Plattsburgh State with 249 victories, one SUNYAC championship and one NCAA Division III tournament appearance to finish as the winningest coach in the program's history. Ben Sarraf, who spent eight seasons as an assistant under Cole, is the current head coach, taking over in 2020. The team's SUNYAC title came amidst a 23-6 season in 2014, as it took down Geneseo in the SUNYAC championship game to advance to the NCAA tournament. Brittany Marshall was named the SUNYAC tournament MVP, putting up 21 points in the semifinal win and 13 points in the championship game. The team traveled to Bowdoin for the NCAA first and second rounds, defeating Roger Williams before falling to Castleton in overtime in the second round. Kathleen Payne and Donna Dixon are the two players in the team's history to win SUNYAC Player of the Year with both later being inducted into the Plattsburgh State athletics Hall of Fame. Other Hall of Famers from the women's basketball program include Maureen M. Anken (1984), Doris E. Benton (1950), Gail Dunn Rudloff (1966), Linda J. Feinman (1981), Emily Jones Pleau (1981), Margaret "Meg" Knott (1984), Erin (Hutchinson) Lorah (2004), Mary Schreck-Catellier (1979), Anne M. Slattery (1984) and Alicia (LaValley) Wentworth (1993).

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Plattsburgh State celebrates 50th anniversary of women's basketball program

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