PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.—Utica University (1-1) narrowly escaped the SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (0-3) 86-84 in double-overtime in the first round of the Holiday Inn Express Plattsburgh Cardinal Classic on Friday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• A 3-pointer from freshman guard Lucie Scarpine (Angola, N.Y./Lake Shore) gave the Bears an 11-9 lead in the first quarter. However, the Pioneers closed the 10 minutes with a 14-2 run to lead 23-13. Freshman guard Olivia Cook (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) had five points, including a three and senior forward DaeLynn Alcock (Philadelphia, N.Y./Indian River) scored three.
• Potsdam edged Utica 18-17 in the second quarter and trimmed the deficit to 40-31 at the half. Freshman guard Lillian Hoyt (Hornell, N.Y./Hornell) hit three threes in the second for nine points.  Junior guard Sara Richards (Au Sable Forks, N.Y./AuSable Valley) had five points, three from long range.
• The Bears kept coming, outscoring the Pioneers 19-16 in the third quarter to get within 56-60 through 30 minutes. Sophomore center Reese Shambo (Au Sable Forks, N.Y./AuSable Valley) had a huge quarter with 14 points. Alcock chipped in another five.
• A 22-16 fourth quarter surge by Potsdam forced the game to overtime. Alcock was clutch with time running out, scoring another 15 points, including the layup that tied the game at 72 with four seconds left. Hoyt also hit another huge three in the fourth.
• The teams battled to a 78-78 draw in the first overtime. A Cook layup put the Bears up 78-74 with 1:23 to play, but the Pioneers managed to tie the contest. She had three points in the first extra session.
• Layups from Alcock and Cook gave the Bears an 82-79 lead with 2:36 left in the second overtime. However, a 7-0 Utica run made the difference giving them an 86-82 advantage. Alcock made two free throws with 14 seconds left to get Potsdam within two, but the Bears couldn't get any closer.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Utica shot 42-percent from the floor, while Potsdam hit 37.8-percent of their attempts.
• The Bears edged the Pioneers on the glass, 51-28.
• Alcock finished with a career-high 33 points to go with 10 boards for a double-double as well as three steals and three blocks.
• Shambo also had a personal best 17 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double.
• Cook scored 12 points and added six assists, four rebounds and two steals.
• Hoyt also had 12 points, all on 3-pointers.
• Vanessa Hall led the Pioneers with 26 points and McKenzie Simmons and Carly Atty each contributed 15 points.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Bears face Mount Holyoke College for the first time ever tomorrow at 3 p.m. in the second round.