BUFFALO, N.Y.—A late run gave Buffalo State (8-5, 4-2 SUNYAC) a narrow 77-73 victory over the SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (5-8, 2-5) on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore forward Devyn Elliott (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) recorded her second double-double of the season with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman forward Jakia Howard (Syracuse, N.Y./Nottingham) also posted her ninth double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 boards. Freshman guard Caroline LaFountain (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds and sophomore guard Dyamon Hunter (Bronx, N.Y./Thurgood Marshall Academy) scored 10 points and totaled 13 assists for the Bears third double-double of the game.
 
The Bengals outscored Potsdam 8-4 over the first four minutes of the contest, but the Bears used a 12-0 run to seize a 16-8 lead by 3:08. Elliott started the burst with a three-point play and had five points during the span. Buffalo State answered with a 13-4 run and held a 21-20 lead after 10 minutes.
 
The Bengals opened up a 27-20 advantage by 5:56 of the second quarter, but the Bears outscored them 14-6 over the rest of the period to take a 34-33 lead into the half. Elliott and LaFountain each scored six as the quarter wound down. LaFountain hit a three with 36 seconds left and then another at the buzzer after Hunter stole the ball from Buffalo State.
 
The teams answered basket for basket over the first 4:30 of the third quarter. There were five lead changes and one tie before a layup from Liv LeBaron gave Buffalo State a 50-44 lead. Howard scored the next four points to get Potsdam within two at 4:02. Every time the Bengals scored near the close of the quarter, Howard or Elliott had an answer. Buffalo State led 56-54 with 10 minutes to play.
 
The Bears stayed close early in the fourth quarter and back-to-back shots from sophomore Alexis Davis (Brooklyn, N.Y./Williamsburg H.S. of Architecture and Design) gave the Bears a 60-59 lead with 8:22 left. A layup from Elliott and a three from LaFountain extended the advantage to 65-61 at 6:39. Elliott hit a jumper at 4:47 and Potsdam led 70-65, but Buffalo State battled back. Free throws and a 3-pointer from Katie Villarini helped generate a 9-0 run and a 74-70 Bengals lead at 2:45. Hunter scored 20 seconds later, but Buffalo State hit three of four free throws and held Potsdam to just one free throw to finish the 77-73 win.
 
LeBaron finished with a game-high 27 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Bengals. Villarini scored 17 points and grabbed five rebounds. Tori Hackett also had a double-double with 14 points and 11 boards and Anasah DeMember rounded out the leaders with nine points.
 
The Bears shot 50-percent from the floor (30-60), while holding Buffalo State to 38 percent. The Bengals edged Potsdam in rebounding 43-40.
 
The Bears are back home next Friday when they host Oswego State at 5:30 p.m.