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PLATTSBURGH — Lyndsey Moore is new to the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team, but she's also a junior, so the coaching staff has challenged her from the start to be a leader.

Plattsburgh State (0-1), which hosts the Cardinal Classic today and Saturday, has just four juniors and seniors on the roster, and Moore is one of two who transferred in this year. So the Cardinals are looking to take advantage of both Moore's scoring ability and her experience.

"She's pretty confident, doesn't get rattled too easily," Plattsburgh State coach Cheryl Cole said. "She's a tougher kid, and those are the kind of kids that can help you pull through things when there's adversity. So definitely we're looking to her to help in that area."

Moore, a guard from Saratoga Springs, played for St. Michael's as a freshman and didn't play last season. She said she missed basketball and contacted Cole about joining the Cardinals.

She has played mostly point guard in the past, but this season she'll move between the point and the two-guard spot.

"I like to play both," Moore said. "Throughout high school I played the point, but I'm a scorer, so the past few years I've played shooting guard. It doesn't really matter to me."

Moore scored 13 points off the bench in the Cardinals' season-opening loss at Norwich Sunday, when she played both positions.

The Cardinals lost three key guards from last season — Megan Lynch, Shoshana Harris and Erin Silberberg — and Moore is one of several new players brought in to replace them.

Cole said Moore will continue to spell starting point guard Catherine Cassidy, but the Cardinals would like to have Moore where she can be most dangerous on offense.

"I think we'll want her to end up more at the off guard, where she can be more of a scorer," Cole said. "She has a nice stroke; she shoots it well. She's got a good pull-up. She's a scorer, flat out.

"The more you have to work the point, the more you're not just taking care of you — you're taking care of teammates and the flow of what's happening. So we'd like to have her more at the two. But she can help us at both, no question."

The Cardinals will host Albany Pharmacy (1-2) in today's first game, followed by Baruch vs. Castleton State (1-0). The championship and third-place games are slated for Saturday afternoon.

Plattsburgh State beat Albany Pharmacy 60-56 last January. Baruch, which is opening its season today, reached the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament last year. Castleton State was also a tournament team, although this year's squad includes six freshmen.

"Both were good teams, won their conferences and both went on to the NCAAs," Cole said. "And both have quality programs."

The Cardinals' depth will be tested this weekend. Forward Nora Campbell was injured in practice Tuesday and won't play this weekend, and guard Kerri Salisbury is still out with an injury.

E-mail Courtney Lewis at: clewis@pressrepublican.com