PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (3-7, 2-4 SUNYAC) fell to Plattsburgh State (4-8, 1-5 SUNYAC) on the road Saturday afternoon. Senior forward Jakia Howard (Syracuse, N.Y./Nottingham) registered a monster double-double scoring a career-high 23 points and pulling down 15 rebounds to lead the Bears.

Senior forward Mandy Barnell (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) put in a close shot to get the Bears on the board one minute into the opening quarter of play. Two minutes later at 7:23, sophomore guard Carley Hill (Essex, Vt./Rice Memorial) located Howard in the paint for a good layup that gave Potsdam the early 6-5 advantage. Both teams continued to trade baskets for the remainder of the quarter as the scoreboard read 14-14 after one.

Both teams struggled to find the bottom of the basket to start the second quarter. Plattsburgh was able to break the scoreless streak at 7:27 when Jaden Wilson sank a three-pointer to put the Cardinals on top by three. On the following play junior guard Bella Barner (Liverpool N.Y./Liverpool) popped in a mid-range jumper to cut the Plattsburgh lead back to one. With 4:13 remaining, the Bears routed a 7-0 run to put Potsdam ahead 27-23. Sophomore forward Jenna Cotter (Johnson City, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) and Howard each scored two points while sophomore guard Mikayla Shipley (North Chili, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) netted a three to cap the run. The Bears held a two-point lead heading into the half.

Potsdam started the third quarter by scoring the first four points. Howard made a layup and two free throws to extend the Bears lead 31-25 with 8:21 remaining. The momentum quickly shifted in the Cardinals favor when they went on an 8-1 run of their own led by Hannah Ruberto who scored four points in the run. Plattsburgh took the 33-32 lead with 4:20 left in the quarter. At 3:47, Bradford dished the ball back out to Barner who sank a timely three to put the Bears back ahead by two. A series of missed shots and turnovers plagued the Bears in the remaining three minutes as the Cardinals went on another 10-3 run to go up 43-38 at the end of the quarter.

The Cardinals continued to keep their foot on the pedal in the final quarter as they outscored the Bears 21-12 to seal the 64-50 victory at home.

Cotter scored six points while Barner chipped in five to round out the scoring efforts for the Bears. Bradford and Barnell both dished out five assists in the game; a career-high for Barnell.

The Cardinals were led by Mya Smith with 17 points and Kortney McCarthy with 12 points. Bri Brousseau and Payton Couture grabbed nine and 10 rebounds, respectively.

The Bears are back in action next Friday, January 13, when they travel to SUNY Fredonia for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off with the Blue Devils.