POTSDAM, N.Y.- SUNY New Paltz (13-6, 9-3 SUNYAC) holds off late second half surge by SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (1-18, 0-12 SUNYAC) to take 78-67 win over the Bears Friday night at Hawk Center. Senior Bailey Weigel (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville East) led Potsdam on the night with 22 points and eight rebounds and Hawks' Laura Stuart finished with 12 points and six boards in the victory.

Junior forward Katie LaVoie (Malone, N.Y./Franklin Academy) opened the scoring for the contest with a jumper, but Courtney Irby answered with a jumper of her own to even the score. The teams exchanged baskets through the first seven minutes before the Hawks went on a 11-0 run that was capped with a layup from Irby. The Bears started to battle back with layup from Weigel to start a 11-7 run, but at 6:33 New Paltz rallied again with a 16-9 run to close out the half with the Hawks leading 48-31.

With 7:03 to go in the contest, New Paltz was out to their largest lead of 20 after a layup from Colleen Ames. Following the made shot, Potsdam's offense lit up after LaVoie knocked down a jumper to ignite a 18-6 run that got the Hawks lead down to eight with 2:11 remaining. Despite the offensive push, New Paltz never allowed Potsdam to get any closer than eight points. The Hawks went 6-for-10 from the line in the last two minutes of the game to seal the 78-67 victory.

LaVoie finished with 12 points and seven rebounds and senior guard Carli Reynolds (Indian Lake, N.Y./Indian Lake) tallied 11 points, six boards and two steals for the Bears.

Kit Small and Irby helped the Hawks with 10 points each and Ashley Riefenhauser added eight.

Potsdam is back in action tomorrow afternoon when the Bears face SUNY Oneonta at 4 p.m.