ONEONTA, N.Y.—SUNY Oneonta (6-9, 4-4 SUNYAC) defeated the SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (6-9, 2-7) 53-45 on Saturday afternoon. Graduate student forward Jakia Howard (Syracuse, N.Y./Nottingham) just missed a double-double with 15 points and eight rebounds. She now has 1,073 career points, good for fourth place on the program's scoring list. She also has 699 rebounds.
 
The first quarter was a close, low scoring 10 minutes. An Amanda Zuntag jumper at 3:39 gave the Red Dragons a little separation at 8-4, but Potsdam junior forward Jenna Cotter (Johnson City, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) answered with a three to make it a one-point game. It was just 10-9 Oneonta after one. Howard had four points and junior guard Barbara Bruno (Bronx, N.Y./Brooklyn High School for Law and Technology) also had a basket.
 
Bruno gave Potsdam the lead with the first points of the second quarter, but the Red Dragons responded with a 13-0 run to grab a 23-11 lead at 6:55. Howard, junior guard Carley Hill (Essex, Vt./Rice Memorial and Bruno scored in succession to send the Bears into the break down just 24-19. Bruno had six points in the second.
 
Potsdam nearly stayed even with Oneonta, but the Red Dragons edged them 16-15. Two free throws from junior guard Zavia Jaime (New Hartford, N.Y./New Hartford) got the Bears within 38-34 with 35 seconds left. Oneonta led 40-34 after 30 minutes. Jaime had five points, including a three. Junior guard Mikayla Shipley (North Chili, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) also scored from long range.

A layup from Howard to open the fourth quarter got Potsdam within four points a final time. The Red Dragons slowly pulled away over the remainder of the game. Emma Schwartzbeck put Oneonta up 44-36 at 7:58, but Howard countered with a three. The Red Dragons then put the game away with a 9-2 run to build a 53-41 advantage with 2:47 left. Cotter got the Bears a little closer, hitting all four of her final free throws before Oneonta claimed the 53-45 victory.
 
Cotter finished with 10 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Bruno also reached double digits with 10 points and three boards.
 
Zuntag led the Red Dragons with 12 points and eight rebounds. Jenna Harclerode scored 11 points and grabbed seven boards. Molly Stevens and Schwartzbeck scored 10 points apiece.
 
The Bears continue their road trip with next Friday with a 5:30 p.m. matchup with SUNY Brockport.