CANTON, N.Y.- The SUNY Potsdam women’s basketball team forced 26 turnovers and held SUNY Canton to 28 percent shooting in a 56-35 win. The victory ensured the Bears were the only team to emerge from the SUNY Canton Tournament with a 2-0 mark.

Potsdam (2-1) never trailed in the contest but was not able to pull away in the first half. The Bears biggest lead of the half was a 24-18 advantage on a Kaley Arsenault jumper with 13 seconds remaining. Both teams struggled on the offensive end but turned up the intensity on defense. Potsdam shot just 19 percent from the field and Canton shot 32 percent. The difference was the Bears knocked down four three-pointers and Canton went 0-4 from behind the arc. Potsdam also forced 15 Canton turnovers while only turning it over seven times themselves. Sophomore Hannah Kmiecinski account for three of the four three points as she went 3-6 to lead the Bears with nine first half points.

Freshman Bailey Weigel who spent much of the first half on the bench with foul trouble, knocked down back-to-back jumpers and added a layup to jumpstart an 8-2 run to begin the half. Canton would narrow the gap to 32-28 but the Bears used a 16-2 run to seize control. Freshman Carli Reynolds scored all eight of her points in the spurt. The Bears aggressive defense held the Kangaroos to 6-25 shooting and allowed only 15 second half points.

The Bears were led by Kmicinski with 11 points. Sophomore Jessica Kouzan added nine points and Reynolds finished with eight points and 10 rebounds.

“I was happy with our defensive effort,” Ruckh said. “We missed some open looks in the first half but we played hard on the defensive end. I’m pleased with where we’re at, especially our play in the second half, and we need to build on how we ended the game.”

The Kangaroos (1-3) were paced by Kaitlin Myers who finished with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Potsdam returns to action on Sunday, Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. The Bears will host Ithaca College in their first home game of the season.