PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (2-0) edged Castleton University (2-2) 79-73 in the opening game of the Plattsburgh Cardinal Classic. Graduate forward Jakia Howard (Syracuse, N.Y./Nottingham) paced the Bears with her second double-double of the season, tying a career-high 28 points along with 11 rebounds.
 
Junior forward Jenna Cotter (Johnson City, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) got Potsdam on the board two minutes into the opening quarter off a close layup. With 4:35 to go in the quarter, the Bears routed a quick 4-0 run to tie the game 10-10. Howard scored a jumper off an assist from junior guard Mikayla Shipley (North Chili, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) and junior guard Xy'El Bradford (Syracuse, N.Y./Syracuse Academy of Science) made a fastbreak layup off a steal. Three minutes later, junior guard Zavia Jaime (New Hartford, N.Y./New Hartford) made a quick pass to freshman guard Sara Richards (AuSable Valley, N.Y./AuSable Valley) who sank a 3-pointer to give the Bears a 16-12 lead with 1:42 remaining. Both teams continued to trade baskets in the final minute of the quarter before Jaime nailed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer off an assist from junior guard Carley Hill (Essex, Vt./Rice Memorial) to give Potsdam a 21-18 advantage after one.
 
The Bears hit four free-throws from Cotter and Howard to extend their lead 25-20 three minutes into the second quarter. Potsdam then went on another 4-0 run midway through the second to put the Bears up 31-23 with 5:09 to go. Hill made a jump shot while Howard managed to tip-in a layup off a rebound. The Spartans countered with an 8-3 run of their own to trim Potsdam's lead 34-31 with 1:11 remaining in the quarter. Shipley was fouled with two seconds left as she made both her free-throws to send the Bears into the break ahead 36-31.
 
Castleton got off to a hot start, scoring the first five points in the second half. Kathryn Moore made a 3-pointer and Liz Bailey made a jump shot to tie the game 36-36 at 6:45. One minute later, Bradford made a fastbreak layup off a helper from Howard to give the Bears a slight 40-37 lead midway through the third quarter. At 3:49, Jaime laid in another close shot to extend the Potsdam lead. Forty seconds later, Howard picked the ball free and ran it coast-to-coast for a fastbreak lay-in to put the Bears up 48-43. Tied 50-50 with seven seconds remaining, Jaime bullied her way to the basket where she was fouled and made the layup for the and-one opportunity. Potsdam took a 52-50 lead into the final quarter.
 
Potsdam asserted themselves to start the fourth quarter when Jaime made her second 3-pointer of the game off an assist from Shipley to give the Bears a quick 57-52 advantage at 8:55. Neither team gained momentum over the following six minutes until Potsdam routed a 10-2 run with 1:44 remaining to put the Bears ahead 71-62. Howard scored five points during the run. Castleton refused to go away however as Stasia Epler nailed a 3-pointer to trim the Bears lead 75-70 with 24 seconds remaining. Potsdam sank four free-throws in the final seconds to seal the road victory for the Bears.
 
Jaime scored a career-high 13 points and Shipley had a well-balanced statline with 10 points, six rebounds, and six assists for Potsdam. Bradford had 10 points while Cotter chipped in nine points along with seven rebounds to round out the leaders for the Bears.
 
Elise Magro led the Spartans with 16 points. Liz Bailey tallied 15 points and Arianna Coombs registered 13 points. Emily Adams posted 10 points, six rebounds, and four assists.
 
The Bears are back in action tomorrow when they face Bates College at 1 p.m. in their final game of the Cardinal Classic.