POTSDAM, N.Y.—SUNY New Paltz (4-4, 1-1 SUNYAC) defeated the SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (1-5, 0-2) 71-51 on Saturday afternoon in Jerry Welsh Gymnasium. Senior captains Carli Reynolds (Indian Lake, N.Y./Indian Lake) and Colleen McNamara (Guelph, Ontario/Our Lady of Lourdes) led the Bears with 12 and 9 points, respectively. Freshman guard Jasmine Bryant (Elmont, N.Y./St. Mary's College Prep) scored a game-high 16 points to pace the Hawks.

New Paltz was red hot from the get go, opening the contest with a 25-9 run over the first 13 minutes. Potsdam outscored the Hawks 13-12 over the rest of the half, but still trailed 37-22 at the break.

Sloppy play slowed the scoring down over the first half of the final 20 minutes. At 10:25, Reynolds hit a jumper cut New Paltz's lead to 11 at 42-31, but the Hawks pulled away again with a 6-0 stretch. Sophomore guard Meghan Driscoll (Troy, N.Y./Troy) made a layup with 6:03 remaining to make it a 53-41 game. A 16-6 New Paltz run gave the Hawks their biggest lead of the game at 69-47 four minutes later before closing out the 20-point victory.

Driscoll, junior forward Katie LaVoie (Malone, N.Y./Franklin Academy), and senior captain Veronica Sapp (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam) all finished with six points for Potsdam. Senior captain Bailey Weigel recorded four points and a game-high nine rebounds.

Sophomore forward Courtney Irby (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) and junior guard Colleen Ames (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) each scored nine points for the Hawks and sophomore guard Kit Small (Slingerlands, N.Y./Academy of the Holy Names) posted six points and a team-leading eight rebounds.

The Bears are back in action on Tuesday night when they host St. Lawrence University at 7:30 p.m.