Potsdam, NY – A near flawless showing from the free throw line helped the Clarkson University Women’s Basketball team end a four-game losing streak against Potsdam State as the Golden Knights took a 56-43 victory Tuesday evening at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights won their second straight contest to improve to 3-2 overall on the season. Clarkson will close out the first semester on Friday against Elmira College at Alumni Gymnasium. Potsdam dropped to 1-4 on the season.

Both teams took some time to get used to the officials, as several close traveling calls were made in the early going as the two teams combined for 32 turnovers in the first half. It wasn’t until later in the half that either team found much offensive rhythm. Leading 17-15 with four minutes to go in the half, senior guard Lauren Pluchino (Liverpool, NY) took over, scoring six of the final 10 points for the Knights in a 10-2 run to end the period.

Pluchino ended the half with a game-high 13 points, shooting 4-for-6 from the field and 4-for-4 from the line. Carey Turner (Clifton Park, NY) was next with four points, while no other player for Clarkson had recorded more than a single field goal. For Potsdam, Brittany Whitton nailed a pair of first-half 3-pointers to lead the Bears. Potsdam held a 23-16 edge on the boards, including 11 offensive rebounds for second-chance opportunities, although the team shot only 7-for-28 (25.0%).

In the second half, Potsdam was able to record the first points of the period, but that would be one of only two times in the remainder of the game that the Bears were able to pull within single digits. The key for the Knights holding their lead throughout the contest was clutch free throw shooting, as Clarkson was 24-for-27 from the line for the game. Sophomore Noelle Miller (Hamburg, NY) was the leader in that department for Clarkson, going 9-for-10.

Pluchino finished with 17 points and three steals, while Miller added 13 points. Carey Turner also contributed 10 points and six rebounds. Sierra Noles (Averill Park, NY) nearly pulled off a double-double off the bench, accounting for eight points and eight rebounds.

For Potsdam, Sophie Parks and Kaley Arsenault each recorded eight points, while Jessica Kouzan contributed seven points and seven rebounds.