POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (4-1) defeated Morrisville State (4-2) 59-56 on Tuesday night for its fourth straight win. Junior forward Alyson Crosby (Brier Hill, N.Y./Hammond) had a career-high 21 points along with nine rebounds. Junior guard Dyamon Hunter (Bronx, N.Y./Thurgood Marshall Academy) scored 14 points and totaled four rebounds and four assists.
 
The Mustangs scored first, but Potsdam raced by them to build a 10-4 lead at 5:49. Crosby scored eight of the points during the run. A layup from Morrisville sophomore guard Rachel Vieira (Caruthers, Calif./Selma High) closed the gap to 12-8 at 5:32, but Bears sophomore guard Bella Barner (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) answered with a 3-pointer that started a 9-4 run to end the quarter. Hunter scored four points during the stretch and Potsdam led 21-12 after 10 minutes.
 
Junior guard Madison McCormick (Heuvelton, N.Y./Heuvelton) hit a three at 5:59 of the second quarter to give Potsdam its biggest lead of the half at 28-16. However, the Mustangs closed the half on a 10-0 run and trailed 28-26 at the break. Freshman guard Olivia Brunner (East Branch, N.Y./Downsville) scored seven of the points to lead Morrisville into the locker room.
 
Viera opened the third quarter with a three to put the Mustangs briefly on top 13 seconds in. The basket fired Potsdam up and they responded with a 16-2 run, started by a Cosby layup. McCormick contributed a three-point play to the run and sophomore guard Caroline LaFountain (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) hit a three to go with Crosby's six points. Barner drained a three at 5:38 to put the Bears up 44-31. Again the Mustangs charged back into the game, this time with a 12-4 run. Brunner and sophomore guard Taylor Colone-Microni (Oneonta, N.Y./Oneonta) each had a 3-pointer and five points during the stretch. Morrisville was down just 48-43 after three quarters.
 
The Mustangs continued their momentum entering the final quarter, outscoring the Bears 9-2 in the first 6:01 to grab a 52-50 lead. Freshman guard Cara Walker (Phelps, N.Y./Midlakes) scored seven of the nine and capped the run with a three-point play. Hunter got the Bears going again with a layup with 2:18 left to get Potsdam even. Crosby made it 54-53 Bears with a free throw at 1:14, but Colone-Microni was fouled and hit both free throws to put Morrisville back on top at 0:56. Crosby countered with a layup and the lead 19 seconds later. Brunner was fouled with 15 seconds left and hit both free throws to give the Mustangs their last lead at 56-55. Hunter came through in the clutch again to score on a layup to put Potsdam back on top for good. With just 0.2 seconds remaining, freshman guard Xy'El Bradford (Syracuse, N.Y./Syracuse Academy of Science) was fouled and closed the scoring by hitting both shots.
 
Barner finished with six points and McCormick had well rounded day with five points, nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Junior forward Mandy Barnell (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) added eight points, five boards and two blocks.
 
Walker was outstanding for Morrisville with 15 points, 19 rebounds and three steals. Vieira scored 15 points and had three assists. Brunner rounded out the leaders with 13 points and nine rebounds.
 
The Mustangs edged Potsdam on the glass 39-35, but the Bears shot 40-percent from the floor to Morrisville's 36.2-percent.
 
The Bears are back in action on Tuesday, November 30, when they head to Plattsburgh State to open SUNYAC play at 5:30 p.m.