CANTON, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (6-7) built a large lead and withstood a late charge to defeat SUNY Canton (9-9) 70-59 in its final nonconference contest on Tuesday night. SUNYAC Athlete of the Week, senior forward Jakia Howard (Syracuse, N.Y./Nottingham), paced the Bears' balanced attack with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Junior guard Bella Barner (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) scored 11 points, while sophomore guard Carley Hill (Essex, Vt./Rice Memorial) scored a career-high 10 and senior forward Mandy Barnell (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) matched her.
 
Potsdam outscored the Kangaroos 11-5 over the first four minutes of the contest. After a Canton bucket, the Bears rattled 11 of the quarter's final 15 points and led 22-11. Howard scored nine points in the opening 10 minutes and sophomore guard Xy'El Bradford (Syracuse, N.Y./Syracuse Academy of Science) scored five.
 
It was more of the same in the second quarter. Potsdam started on a 14-4 run and a three from Hill made it 36-15 at 5:38. With 28 seconds left, sophomore forward Jenna Cotter (Johnson City, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) hit a jumper to give the Bears their biggest lead of the game at 44-19. Potsdam led 44-21 at the half. Senior guard Dyamon Hunter (Bronx, N.Y./Thurgood Marshall Academy) scored five points in the second and Cotter and Barner each had four.
 
The third quarter was more competitive, but Canton couldn't narrow the deficit. Potsdam outscored Canton 13-12 and led 57-33 after 30 minutes. Barner hit two threes to lead the way with six points. Hill also scored from long range.
 
The home team made a late charge, but ran out of time. Canton outscored the Bears 26-13 in the fourth quarter and closed the game on an 18-7 run. Hope Aniceto hit a three with 1:36 remaining to close the gap to 65-55 and then the Roos forced Potsdam to the free-throw line for the rest of the game. The Bears hit five of six and slammed the door on the defensive end of the court to close out the win.
 
Bradford scored nine points for the Bears, while Hunter and Cotter finished with seven and six points, respectively.
 
Sophie Munoz scored a game-high 17 points for Canton and grabbed seven rebounds. Joie Culkin had 14 points and eight boards and Emma Perez scored 10.
 
The Bears are back home for a Friday matchup with SUNY Geneseo at 5:30 p.m.