PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (5-1,1-0 SUNYAC) defeated Plattsburgh State (3-3,0-1) in a nail biter, 67-63. Junior guard Madison McCormick (Heuvelton, N.Y./Heuvelton) led all scorers with a season-high 18 points, while sophomore guard Caroline LaFountain (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) had 11 points. Junior forward Alyson Crosby (Brier Hill, N.Y./Hammond) nearly registered a double-double with eight points and 10 rebounds.
 
The win was Potsdam's third in the teams' last four meetings.
 
The Bears asserted themselves quickly, as they went on a 6-2 run to start the opening quarter. Junior guard Dyamon Hunter (Bronx, N.Y./Thurgood Marshall Academy) made two layups, while McCormick hit a jump shot. The Cardinals however, were unphased by the run and tied the game 8-8 off a layup from Mya Smith at 4:55. Potsdam answered 7-0 run. Junior forward Jakia Howard (Syracuse, N.Y./Nottingham), McCormick and Crosby each made a layup, while LaFountain made a free throw. Potsdam led 15-8 with 3:16 left in the first quarter. Plattsburgh responded with an 8-2 stretch. Kelly Degnan scored with a close shot while Brinley Inglee and Smith each nailed 3 -pointers. Plattsburgh closed out the opening 10 minutes ahead of the Bears 19-17.
 
Both the Bears and the Cardinals traded baskets for a total of six lead changes in the second quarter. McCormick netted a layup with five seconds to go and the Bears led by two-point. McCormick paced the scoring effort with seven points as Potsdam led 34-32 at halftime.
 
To start the second half, the Bears went on a another 7-0 run. Crosby made a jumper, layup and a free throw to boost Potsdam to a 41-32 advantage at 8:53. Two minutes later, Smith made back-to-back 3-point shots that trimmed the lead to one possession. Potsdam's defense held off the Cardinals for the remainder of the quarter, resulting in a 53-44 Bears' lead after 30 minutes
 
The Cardinals were not finished as they opened the fourth quarter with a 16-6 run to take a 60-59 with 4:35 left. At the 2:45 mark of the quarter, LaFountain scored on a layup to put Potsdam back up 61-60. One minute later, Howard scored on another high-percentage opportunity in the paint to extend the lead 64-60. With 47 seconds remaining, Payton Couture made a jumper for the Cardinals to trim the lead to two. With eight seconds to go, Potsdam committed a foul and sent Smith with a chance to tie. She missed her first, but made the second, closing to within 64-63. The Cardinals then fouled McCormick, who split a pair of free throws and extended Potsdam's lead 65-63. With three seconds now remaining, the Cardinals turned the ball over. LaFountain iced the game with two free throws for the 67-63 final.
 
Howard finished with 12 points and five rebounds, while Hunter netted nine points. Both Hunter and McCormick registered three steals. The Bears forced 24 Cardinal turnovers.
 
The Bears will play again at home against New Paltz on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Oneonta on Saturday at 2 p.m.