TROY, N.Y.—Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2-0) defeated the SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (0-1) 63-44 in the Bears' season opener on Saturday afternoon.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Engineers outscored the Bears 13-10 in the first quarter. Senior guard Barbara Bruno (Bronx, N.Y./Brooklyn High School for Law and Technology) scored five points for Potsdam.
• The Bears bounced back in the second quarter, edging RPI 15-12 to reach the break tied at 25-25. Senior guard Carley Hill (Essex, Vt./Rice Memorial) hit two threes in the 10-minute span.
• The Engineers pulled away in the third quarter with a 23-13 edge and a 48-38 lead through 30 minutes. Senior forward Jenna Cotter (Johnson City, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) scored seven points in the third.
• RPI's defense stymied Potsdam in the fourth, holding them to six points while scoring 15 of their own for the 63-44 final. Senior guard Xy'El Bradford (Syracuse, N.Y./Syracuse Academy of Science) had four of the Bears' last six points.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• RPI shot 35.6-percent from the floor, while holding the Bears to 26.3.
• The Engineers finished with a 46-43 advantage on the boards.
• Cotter finished with 14 points, four rebounds and three blocks.
• Bradford had eight points and eight rebounds.
• Bruno added seven points and four rebounds.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
Potsdam heads to St. Lawrence University on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. contest.