POTSDAM, N.Y.- Strong fourth quarter lifted SUNY Plattsburgh (10-12, 6-7 SUNYAC) over the SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (2-19, 1-15 SUNYAC) 46-41 Friday night at Jerry Welsh Gymnasium. Seniors Meghan Driscoll (Troy, N.Y./Troy), Patti Dorgler (Floral Park, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy), Abbey LaPage (North Bangor, N.Y./Franklin Academy), Sidney Thompson (Akwesasne, N.Y./Massena) and Lyndsey Wadsworth (Northville, N.Y./Northville) were honored before the contest.

It was a slow start for both teams during the first 10 minutes of the contest. Freshman forward Frannie Merkel (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster) scored four points of the Cardinals 10. Driscoll and Dorgler combined for the Bears three points.

Potsdam's offense took control with a 13-6 quarter. The Bears gained the lead at 5:06 after a layup from junior forward Emily Drake (Athens, N.Y./Coxsackie-Athens). Potsdam held the lead until the last seven seconds of the first half before freshman forward Taylor Clare (Peeksill, N.Y./Peekskill) hit her own layup to tie the game at 16 apiece.

Coming out of halftime, sophomore guard Abbey Smith (Bainbridge, N.Y./Bainbridge-Guilford) led the Bears with seven points during the third quarter for half of Potsdam's points. At 8:11, Smith drained a 3-pointer to take the lead back from the Cardinals followed by points from Drake, freshman guard Drew Dufrane (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) and Driscoll. The Bears took an eight-point lead into the final 10 minutes.

Senior guard Jax Miller (Argyle, N.Y./Argyle) and sophomore guard Anna Thompson (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Spackenkill) combined for 20 points of Plattsburgh's 24 in the fourth including going 5-for-5 from behind the arch. The Cardinals' grabbed the lead twice and kept it after a three ball from Thompson at 3:18. Potsdam got within one point two times, but were unable to capitalize. Plattsburgh took the 46-41 victory.

Dorgler finished with seven points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. Smith led the Bears with nine points and Dufrane tacked on eight. Driscoll grabbed seven boards and had three steals.

Merkle recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds and Miller tallied 14 points and eight boards. Clare had 10 rebounds and Thompson added 11 points.

Potsdam will host their final home game Wednesday when the Bears hit the hardwood with SUNY Canton.