POTSDAM, N.Y.- The SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team's (1-8, 0-3 SUNYAC) comeback fell short against Buffalo State (6-5, 2-2 SUNYAC) Friday night at Jerry Welsh Gymnasium. The Bengals' took the 80-69 victory over the Bears. Senior forward Katie LaVoie (Malone, N.Y./Franklin Academy) led Potsdam with a career-high 18 points and five rebounds, while senior guard Britt Perry (Buffalo, N.Y./Hutch Tech) finished with 19 points, eight boards and seven steals for the Bengals.

Buffalo State was out to a 4-0 lead in the first four minutes of play, but jumpers from LaVoie and freshman forward Victoria Shopovick (White Plains, N.Y./Maria Regina) tied the game at 5:51. The Bears hit their stride and went on a 6-0 run that was capped with a layup from junior guard Laura Coleman (Manhattan, N.Y./Opportunity Charter). The Bengals answered back with a 6-0 run of their own to tie the game back up at 10-10 with 32 seconds to go in the first quarter.

Perry scored nine points through the first four minutes of play in the second quarter for the Bengals, but Potsdam answered with scores from four different Bears to keep it a one-possession game. The rest of the quarter was evenly matched with Buffalo State leading 33-32 at the half.

The teams traded baskets to open the third quarter before the Bengals' offense ignited. Buffalo State went on a 20-4 run to close out the quarter and carry their 16-point lead into the final quarter.

The Bears kept battling back, but the Bengals wouldn't go away. Potsdam outscored Buffalo State 25-20 during the quarter, but fell 80-69.

Junior guard Abbey LaPage (North Bangor, N.Y./Franklin Academy) had a career-high 12 points and three steals and freshman guard Abbey Smith (Bainbridge, N.Y./Bainbridge-Guilford) also had a career-high night 10 points with another three steals.

Sophomore guard Caleh McLean (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) and senior forward Jordan Yastremski (Bath, N.Y./Bath-Haverling) each recorded a double-double for the Bengals. McLean had 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Yastremski had 10 points and 10 boards. Sophomore guard Keyonte Edwards (Buffalo, N.Y./O'Hara) tacked on 13 points.

The Bears are back in action tomorrow when they hit the hardwood with SUNY Fredonia at 2 p.m.