Hamilton College scored 24 points in the first quarter and never trailed in a 76-61 win against SUNY Plattsburgh in the championship game of the 2019 Cardinal Classic at Plattsburgh's Memorial Hall Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.

The Continentals (4-0 overall) placed five players in double figures in points and a sixth finished with nine points. Hamilton owned a 44-29 advantage on the boards including 19 offensive rebounds and enjoyed a 23-5 edge in second-chance points.

Kelcie Zarle '22 was selected the tournament's Most Valuable Player and Carly O'Hern '20 made the all-tournament team for the Continentals. Zarle tied a program record with seven 3-pointers and poured in 23 points in Friday night's 59-48 victory against SUNY Polytechnic.

Mackenzie Aldridge '20 topped Hamilton with 14 points off the bench. Zarle chipped in 13 points as she made three more shots from beyond the arc and added four assists and two steals. Liz Arnold '22 posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, seven of which were on the offensive glass. Claire Sehring '22 and Kayla Glemaud '21 scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, off the bench. Scout Lansing '21 contributed nine points and four assists.

Theresa Quinn paced the Cardinals (2-3) with a game-high 21 points off the bench. Kayla Doody and Ly'rell Walker registered 10 points apiece, Taylor Clare grabbed nine boards and Taylor Durnin handed out seven assists.

The Continentals jumped out to a 13-2 lead in the first four minutes. A pair of 3-pointers by Zarle were sandwiched around a layup by Kelly Degnan, and Lansing made a steal and layup. Emma Sehring '23 nailed a jumper on Lansing's third assist of the quarter, and O'Hern capped the run with a long-range jumper with 6:22 left.

Plattsburgh didn't get closer than five points the rest of the way. Hamilton led 24-10 after one quarter, 38-29 at the half and 61-44 with 10 minutes remaining. After an old-fashioned 3-point play by Quinn drew the Cardinals within five at 47-42 midway through the third quarter, the Continentals put the game away with a 9-0 spurt. Claire Sehring had five points during the run and Aldridge added four. Two free throws by Aldridge with 1:43 to go in the third made it 56-42 and Hamilton led by double digits the final 13 minutes.

The Continentals travel to Nazareth College for a non-conference game on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 5 p.m.