CORTLAND, N.Y. – Potsdam scored 13 straight points to take an 11-point lead midway through the second half and the Bears defeated Cortland, 62-54, in a SUNYAC contest. Potsdam (3-4) and Cortland (5-2) are both 1-1 in the conference.
Katy Briedis led the guests with 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists. She hit 10-of-10 free throws, all in the final five minutes to help preserve the lead. Hannah Kmiecinski made 5-of-9 three-pointers and finished with 18 points and three assists, while Jessica Kouzan totaled 12 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Bailey Weigel also recorded seven rebounds and three assists and Sophie Parks dished out three assists. Potsdam registered assists on 19 of its 21 field goals.
Senior Molly Byrne led Cortland wit 14 points and six rebounds. Senior Brittany Cohen added 10 points, four assists and three steals and senior Megan Maycumber had six points and four rebounds.
Potsdam shot 39 percent from the floor, including 44 percent (7-of-16) from the three-point arc and 93 percent (13-of-14) from the foul line. Cortland made just 32 percent of its field goals and only 13 percent (4-of-30) from three-point range.
The Bears led 23-14 on a Kouzan jumper with 5:11 left in the first half, but Cortland fought back to within two at halftime, 25-23, after Byrne made a trey with 41 seconds left. Cortland eventually took a 31-30 lead on two Micki Volpini free throws with 15:03 remaining in the game and held a 38-36 lead after senior Ally Biordi connected on a three-pointer with 11:30 left.
Kouzan tied the game on two foul shots with 11:17 left. Briedis and Kmiecinski nailed three-pointers at the 9:29 and 8:04 marks to put Potsdam up by six. Briedis hit a jumper with 6:59 left and Kmiecinski completed the run with a three-pointer at the 6:15 mark.
Potsdam held Cortland without a made field goal from the time Biordi hit the three-pointer with 11:30 left until a Cohen jumper with 1:38 on the clock. The closest the Red Dragons got was seven points twice in the final 45 seconds.
Cortland plays at defending SUNYAC champion Geneseo Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m.