POTSDAM, N.Y.- SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (2-15, 1-11 SUNYAC) fell to SUNY New Paltz (10-7, 7-4 SUNYAC) on Friday night at Jerry Welsh Gymnasium. Freshman guard Drew Dufrane (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) led Potsdam on Bear Pride Night with eight points, while sophomore guard Lindsay Bettke (Pelham, N.Y./The Ursuline School) recorded 16 points for the Hawks.

Play was even during the first 10 minutes of play with both team scoring 17 during the quarter. Senior captain Meghan Driscoll (Troy, N.Y./Troy) led the Bears with five points and Bettke tallied eight points for New Paltz.

An 18-point quarter for the Hawks, gave them a 13-point lead to take into the half. New Paltz's defense held Potsdam to five points during the 10 minutes with senior captain Patti Dorgler (Floral Park, N.Y./Archbishop Molly), Driscoll and junior forward Emily Drake (Athens, N.Y./Coxsackie-Athens) contributing.

New Paltz's offense exploded for a second time in the third with 20 points. Freshman guard Sandi Harris (Georgetown, TX/Georgetown) knocked down two 3-pointers to lead the Hawks, while Dufrane scored six of eight points during the quarter.

Potsdam led New Paltz 11-8 during the last 10 minutes of play with five different Bears adding points, but it wasn't enough to make any ground on the Hawks' lead. New Paltz took the 63-43 win at the final buzzer.

Sophomore guard Abbey Smith (Bainbridge, N.Y./Bainbridge-Guilford) recorded seven points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Driscoll and Drake each tallied six points to round out the leaders.

Senior guard Kit Small (Slingerlands, N.Y./Academy of the Holy Names) finished with 13 points and five assists. Sophomore guard Taylor Howell (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) lead the team with six boards.

Potsdam will be back in action tomorrow when they take on Oneonta at 4 p.m.