POTSDAM, N.Y.—Buffalo State (13-7, 9-4 SUNYAC) used a big third quarter to erase a deficit and defeat the SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (7-12, 4-9 SUNYAC) 77-62 on Bear Pride Night. Sophomore guard Dyamon Hunter (Bronx, N.Y./Thurgood Marshall Academy) led the Bears with a game-high 18 points and seven assists. Sophomore forward Deyvn Elliott (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) scored 17 and grabbed seven rebounds and freshman guard Caroline LaFountain (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) finished with 13.
 
The Bears and Bengals stayed close to each other over the first seven minutes and were deadlocked at eight apiece. Layups from junior guard Kendall Mills (Buffalo, N.Y./Kenmore East) and sophomore forward Tori Hackett (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua) put Buffalo State up 12-8 with 4:19 left, but Potsdam closed the quarter with an 11-2 run and led 19-14 after 10 minutes. LaFountain started the run with a 3-pointer at 3:57. After freshman forward Jakia Howard gave the Bears a 13-12 lead 30 seconds later, LaFountain buried another shot from long range at 1:40. Hunter hit a three with 47 seconds left to give Potsdam the five-point advantage.
 
The Bears continued to roll over the first three minutes of the second quarter with a 9-4 stretch to give them their biggest lead of the game at 28-18. However, the Bengals charged back with a 13-7 run of their own and just trailed 35-31 at the break. Elliott scored 10 points in the quarter, including six points on two threes.
 
Buffalo State overpowered Potsdam in the third quarter and it was the difference in the contest. LaFountain scored on a layup at 7:30 to give the Bears a 40-33 lead, but it was nearly all Bengals the rest of the quarter. A 23-4 run gave Buffalo State control of the contest with a 56-44 edge after 30 minutes.
 
The Bengals outdueled Potsdam 21-18 in the last quarter to close out the 77-62 win. Hunter tried to will the Bears back into the contest with 10 points in the fourth, but Potsdam couldn't cool off Buffalo State's offense.
 
The Bengals shot 50-percent from the floor, but the Bears won the rebounding battle 42-39.
 
Senior guard Liv LeBaron (Corning, N.Y./Corning East) just missed a double-double for Buffalo State with 17 points and nine boards. Senior guard Kaelee Lynch (Atwater, Calif./Buhach Colony) scored 15 and junior guard Katie Villarini (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg) had 13 and five assists. Hackett finished with 12 points and seven rebounds and freshman guard Lexi Emmi (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) scored 10.
 
Potsdam looks to rebound tomorrow afternoon when the Bears host Fredonia at 2 p.m.