POTSDAM, N.Y.--- The SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (5-7, 2-4 SUNYAC) held on to defeat Buffalo State (8-4, 2-3 SUNYAC) 84-79 on Friday night. After a close first half, the Bears took control of the game and managed to go on a 16-0 run that started in the second quarter and extended into the third quarter. The Bengals continued to battle in order to stay in the game and went on a run of their one. Eventually, Buffalo State cut the lead that was once 25 to just two with under a minute remaining in the contest but the Bears sealed the win with free throws. Freshman guard Devyn Elliott (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) scored 21 points and grabbed nine boards. Sophomore center Naya Walters (Bronx, N.Y./Women's Academy of Excellence) and freshman guard Dyamon Hunter (Bronx, N.Y./Thurgood Marshall Academy) each had 19 for the Bears. Walters grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds in the contest.

Both teams struggled on the offensive end in the beginning stages of the first quarter. Elliott was able to end the dry spell with a floater inside for the first field goal of the game at 7:58. Both teams saw most of their points come in the paint. At the 4:58 mark, Liv LeBaron got the rebound off a Potsdam miss and dribbled the length of the court and forced her way for a layup. The basket forced a Potsdam timeout and the Bengals took an early 9-6 lead. Coming out of the timeout the teams exchanged baskets until the Bears scored nine unanswered points which was capped off by a jumper from Elliott. After Jenna Faulkner's three point play, Hunter came back on the other end and got a midrange jumper to go in off the glass to close the quarter. The Bears led by three after 10 minutes of play.  

The Bears offense continued to flow on all cylinders as they took their largest lead of the game at that point at six after Hunter finished a layup while taking the contact. The two teams traded baskets inside after the play and the Bears led 30-26 midway through the second quarter. Coming out of a timeout, Hunter scored inside off a spin move and started a 12-4 run by Potsdam. The run was capped off by a floater from Elliott over her defender and the Bears led by a dozen. Shortly after, the Bengals were able to cut the lead to single digits after a three pointer by Kate Villarini. The Bears took a 42-33 advantage going into the second half.  

Coming into the third quarter, the Bears offense continued its success. They were able to extend their lead to 20 after an and-one by Walters, followed by a floater by Hunter, then another floater by senior guard Riley Lucky (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg). The 7-0 run was followed by five more unanswered points from the Bears. The Bengals first bucket of the third came after a jumper from the corner by Faulkner at the 6:12 mark. Following the run that started from the second quarter, the Bengals began to bring the pressure to Potsdam on defense and made shots which resulted in a 10-2 stretch. The Bears were able to respond with a three-pointer at the end of the quarter by Hunter, to put them up 48-65.  

The Bengals continued to bring the pressure as they started the quarter on a 13-5 run. The run and LeBaron's layup at the 4:27 mark trimmed the deficit to just nine. With just under a minute left remaining, Faulkner's thee-pointer cut the Bears lead to six, but with time against them, they were forced to foul Potsdam. After a couple of missed free throws from the Bears, LeBaron hit a three-pointer from the top of the key, making it a one possession game with 41 seconds remaining. After being fouled once again, Luckie made a pair of free throws to make it a two possession game. The game had a repeat of events that happened just prior. After another missed free throw from the Bears, LeBaron made her third three-pointer of the game which cut the lead to two. Following the shot, Luckie was fouled once again and made one of two for the 82-79 lead. The Bengals attempted another three-pointer to tie the game, but this time missed, and the Bears were able to sink two free throws to secure the 84-79 win.

This was Potsdam's first victory over Buffalo St. since February 5, 2010

LeBaron had a game-high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds and dished out seven assists to lead Buffalo State. Faulkner and Princella McCullough had 12 points each.  

The Bears shot 45% from the field, while the Bengals shot 41%.  

The Bears will play one more game at home tomorrow against Fredonia at 2 p.m. before they take go back on the road.