PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (1-1) put on a dominant performance as they beat Norwich University (0-2) 72-31 in the first game of the Cardinal Classic at Plattsburgh State. Junior guard
Madison McCormick (Heuvelton, N.Y./Heuvelton) registered 16 points and seven rebounds. Junior guard
Dyamon Hunter (Bronx, N.Y./Thurgood Marshall Academy) scored 14 points and dished out seven assists while shooting an impressive 50-percent from the field.
Sophomore guard
Bella Barner (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) opened up the contest with a 3-pointer. Around the four-minute mark of the first quarter, Hunter grabbed a rebound and threw an outlet pass to sophomore guard
Caroline LaFountain (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs). LaFountain sank a jump shot at the other end of the court, putting Potsdam up 7-2. Freshman guard Xy'el Bradford (Syracuse, N.Y./Syracuse Academy of Science) finished off a 10-2 scoring run when she recorded a 3-pointer with a minute left in the quarter. The Bears led 10-6 after 10 minutes.
Norwich attempted to erase the Potsdam lead with a pair of free throws by Haley Brewster at the start of the second quarter. The momentum quickly changed back in Potsdam's favor when Hunter nailed a 3-pointer off an assist from McCormick at 8:21. A few possessions later, junior forward
Alyson Crosby (Brier Hill, N.Y./Hammond) slipped in a close shot off an offensive board, one of her 10 rebounds on the night. Junior forward
Mandy Barnell (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) tacked two more points onto the lead at 1:47 and the Bears were on top 25-14 at the half.
Potsdam outscored the Cadets 25-7 in the third quarter. McCormick started the period with the hot hand as she scored 10 of the Bears' first 14 points, including two 3-pointers. Barner continued the scoring spree, tipping in a layup off an offensive rebound. Barner scored five points during the third. LaFountain tallied three more points as the Bears extended their lead to 50-21 heading into the final 10 minutes.
Hunter's second 3-pointer gave the Bears a 53-21 lead with 9:01 left. Freshman guard
Mikayla Shipley (North Chili, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) and junior guard
Lauren Martin (Akwesasne, N.Y./Salmon River) both hit 3-pointers, while sophomore guard
Patience Riley (Troy, N.Y./Lansingburgh) chipped in a free throw to assist in a 22-10 Potsdam quarter and close out the win.
Potsdam's bench proved to be more productive than Norwich's, as they outscored the Cadets 26-10. The Bears also played stifling defense, forcing 19 turnovers for the game.
Potsdam is back in action tomorrow afternoon when the Bears will face off against SUNY Cobleskill at 1 p.m. in the second round of the tournament.
