CANTON, N.Y.- The SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team went head-to-head with Alfred State College in the first round of the Kevin Fee Roos Classic. The Bears lost a heartbreaker to the Saxons, 43-42. Senior captain Bailey Weigel (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville East) led Potsdam with a double-double with 19 points and 18 rebound, while sophomore guard Meghan Driscoll (Troy, N.Y./Troy) added 11 points.
 
The Bears and Saxons traded baskets through the opening 10 minutes of play. At 11:01, the score remained close with Alfred State up by one. The Saxons went on a 8-2 run before senior guard Veronica Sapp (Potsdam N.Y./Potsdam) hit a jumper and Driscoll knocked down a 3-pointer at 5:44 to cut the lead to 16-14.
 
Alfred State added to their lead once again with two made foul shots and a three, to go up by six.  With 1:06 remaining in the first half, Weigel drove the lane for a layup, and was fouled. She completed the three-point-play to take the Bears into halftime trailing by three.
 
Just 40 seconds into the second half, senior captain Carli Reynolds (Indian Lake, N.Y./Indian Lake) picked off a pass and hit Weigel down the court for the open layup. Weigel scored again after grabbing a rebound in the paint to take the 21-20 lead. The Bears took charge in the first nine minutes, out scoring Alfred State 16-6, but the Saxons worked their way back tying the game at 37-37.
 
The teams traded baskets and free throws in the remaining three minutes of the game. With 31 seconds to go, the game was once again tied at 41-41. Sapp got fouled and hit one of two from the line to take the one-point lead. With time ticking away, Alfred State controlled the ball. The Saxons missed a layup, but got their own rebound and made the put back to take the 43-42 lead and hold on to record the victory.
 
Alfred State shot nearly 26 percent from the floor with Potsdam shooting 22 percent. The Saxons edged the Bears 57-49 in rebounds.
 
The Bears hope to bounce back against SUNY Canton, when they hit the hardwood in the second round of the Kevin Fee Roos Classic at 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon.