Box Score POTSDAM, N.Y. – A late run against it late in the first half proved to be costly for the SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team, which fell 56-43 Tuesday night at cross-town rival Clarkson in non-conference action at Clarkson's Alumni Gymnasium.

Junior forwards Sophie Parks (Bogart, Ga.) and Kaley Arsenault (Syracuse, N.Y.) tallied eight points apiece to pace the Bears, who grabbed 17 offensive rebounds in the game but shot just 30.9 percent from the field.

Clarkson shot a sizzling 24-of-27 (88.9 percent) from the free throw line to offset its own field goal shooting woes (31.9 percent for the game). The Golden Knights' makes doubled the Bears' total attempts from the line (12).

Despite sloppy play from both teams in the first half, Clarkson (3-2) gained momentum going into the locker room with an 8-0 spurt to take a 27-17 advantage. The two teams combined for 32 turnovers and 18 fouls, while Potsdam shot just 25 percent from the field in the frame. A pair of 3-pointers by senior Brittany Whitton (DeKalb, N.Y.) kept the Bears within striking distance.

The Bears (1-4) closed the gap to 47-38 with just under six minutes to play, but were unable to sustain momentum at any point in the second half despite great effort and determination on both ends of the floor.

Freshman forward Jessica Kouzan (Webster, N.Y.) tallied seven points, a team-high seven rebounds and two assists. Freshman guard Hannah Kmiecinski (Webster, N.Y.) accounted for four of Potsdam's six steals.

The Bears open up State University of New York Athletic Conference play against Oneonta this Friday, Dec. 3, at home. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. at Maxcy Hall's Welsh Gymnasium.