ONEONTA, N.Y.— The SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (1-17, 0-12 SUNYAC) fell just short against SUNY Oneonta (12-6, 7-4 SUNYAC) on Friday evening with a score 56-53. Junior guard Mikayla Horton (Hammond, N.Y./Hammond) scored a season high 13 points, and went three-for-four from beyond the arc. Alexa Amalbert had team-highs with 15 points and four assists to help the Red Dragons win.

On the first possession of the game, the Oneonta made a three from Teresa Anken. The Red Dragons maintained the 3-0 lead for over two minutes before junior guard Riley Luckie (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg) answered with a 3-pointer. Minutes later, freshman forward Nicole Hansen (Fulton, N.Y./G. Ray Boley) hit a layup from under the rim to take the lead. With the first quarter winding down, sophomore guard Leah Giavatto (Beacon, N.Y./Beacon) converted an old fashioned three-point play, extending the lead to three. Oneonta hit a free-throw, ending the first quarter down 9-7 to Potsdam.

Oneonta opened the second quarter on a 7-2 run with three different players scoring during the stretch. The Red Dragons maintained the lead until 5:15, where Horton connected from beyond the arc. Both teams ended the half going back-and-forth, but with freshman guard Mia Jackson (Bronx, N.Y./Mott Hall V) made four consecutive free-throws to give Potsdam a 24-23 at the half.

Oneonta started the second half with a 10-3 stretch through the first five minutes of play. Leanne Corso led all Red Dragons with five points during the push. The Bears cut the lead in half with a 3-pointer from sophomore guard Drew Dufrane (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) at 5:06. Potsdam trailed for the next few minutes until freshman guard Carly Shear (Newark, N.Y./Newark) drained a three with under a minute remaining. The Bears held a 41-40 lead after 30 minutes.

With four different Bears scoring in the final quarter, Potsdam kept the lead early in the fourth. With about three minutes left Casey Hayes made a layup to give the Red Dragons a lead for good. The bucket sparked a 7-0 burst from Oneonta, extending the lead to 54-48 with 50 seconds remaining. Despite a Dufrane three and a layup from freshman center Naya Walters (Bronx, N.Y./Women's Academy of Excellence), Oneonta hung on for the win 56-53.

Hansen led the Bears starters with 10 points and tallied six rebounds while Walters had six points and eight boards off the bench.

Madeline Frank finished with a double-double, recording 11 points and 12 rebounds. Corso also reached double figures, scoring 10 points and grabbing six boards.

The Bears outshot the Red Dragons 34 percent to 27.5 percent, while Oneonta outrebounded Potsdam 51-43.

Potsdam is back in action tomorrow as they travel to face New Paltz at 1 p.m.