POTSDAM, N.Y.—Trailing at the half, the SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (10-15, 5-12 SUNYAC) hit the gas in the second half to defeat Buffalo State (5-20, 2-16) 53-49 on Saturday afternoon.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bengals got off to a hot start, outscoring the Bears 14-5 in the first quarter.
• Potsdam was stronger in the second quarter, but Buffalo State finished with a 12-11 edge and led 26-16 at the break. Senior forward Jenna Cotter (Johnson City, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) had five points in the second, including a 3-pointer, and senior guard Barbara Bruno (Bronx, N.Y./Brooklyn High School for Law and Technology) scored four points.
• The Bears' offense finally clicked in the third quarter, surging to a 20-6 run and grabbing a 36-32 lead through 30 minutes. Bruno scored nine of Potsdam's points and senior guards Mikayla Shipley (North Chili, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) and Carley Hill (Essex, Vt./Rice Memorial) each hit threes.
• A three from Shipley and a layup from Cotter extended Potsdam's lead to 41-32 just 44 seconds into the fourth quarter. However, Buffalo State rallied and trailed just 50-49 with 27 seconds to play. Cotter answered with a layup and Shipley hit a free throw to seal the 53-49 victory.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The Bears shot 35.7-percent from the floor to the Bengals' 32.1.
• Potsdam edged Buffalo State in rebounds, 41-38.
• Bruno finished with 16 points and eight rebounds.
• Cotter had 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
• Bengals junior guard Chyann Kelly (Bailey, Colo./Platte Canyon) led all scorers with 23 points to go with eight rebounds.
• Graduate student Maddy Sterns (Clarence, N.Y/Clarence) had 14 points and five boards for Buffalo State.

 
SENIOR DAY
Prior to the game the Bears honored seniors Bruno, Cotter, Hill, Alivia Latham (Brooklyn, N.Y./William E. Grady), Alquidania Martinez (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury), Shipley and graduate student Xy'El Bradford (Syracuse, N.Y./Syracuse Academy of Science).