POTSDAM, N.Y.—Freshman forward Jakia Howard (Syracuse, N.Y./Nottingham) hauled in a career-high 20 rebounds and scored 14 points as the SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (6-8, 3-5 SUNYAC) defeated Oswego State (6-8, 2-6) 67-56 on Friday evening. Sophomore forward Devyn Elliott (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) had a team-high 16 points along with seven boards, four assists and two blocks. Sophomore guard Dyamon Hunter (Bronx, N.Y./Thurgood Marshall Academy) narrowly missed a double-double with 12 points and nine assists and freshman guard Caroline LaFountain (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) finished with 11 points and three rebounds.
 
The Lakers raced out to a 6-2 lead over the first 2:42, but Potsdam surged back with a 10-0 run and never trailed again. Elliott accounted for six points during the stretch and LaFountain scored the other four and Potsdam led 12-6 at 1:52. A three-point play from Oswego junior guard Taylor Torchia (Utica, N.Y./New Hartford) got the Lakers back within 12-11 a minute later, but Hunter closed the quarter with a layup and the Bears were up three after 10 minutes.
 
A 13-5 start to the second quarter gave Potsdam a 27-16 advantage with 2:26 left in the half. Late buckets got Oswego back within 29-22 at the break. LaFountain scored for seven more in the second and Howard had four.
 
The Bears continued to pull away in the third. The Lakers made it a six-point contest with a three-point play from senior forward Morgan Wolanin (Oriskany, N.Y./Oriskany) at 8:25, but the never got any closer. Potsdam outscored them 15-8 the rest of the period. A 3-pointer from freshman guard Bella Barner (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) with 28 seconds left made it a 46-32 lead. The Bears were up 13 after 30 minutes.
 
A 10-3 start to the final quarter, gave Potsdam its biggest lead of the contest at 56-36 with 6:35 left. Oswego whittled the lead down to 11 with a 20-11 finish, but it was too little two late as Potsdam closed out the 67-56 victory. LaFountain scored seven more in the last 10 minutes and Hunter had five.
 
Oswego senior forward Sydni Eure (East Syracuse, N.Y./East Syracuse-Minoa) led the Lakers with a game-high 17 points along with 15 rebounds. Wolanin finished with 12 points and 12 boards and senior guard Quincey Zimmerman (Adams, N.Y./South Jefferson) had 10 points and six rebounds.
 
Potsdam outrebounded Oswego 47-43 and outshot the Lakers 42.6-percent to 34.8.
 
The Bears host first place SUNY Cortland tomorrow at 2 p.m.