POTSDAM, N.Y.—Utica College (1-0) used a strong second half to muscle its way past the SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (0-1) in the season opener at Jerry Welsh Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. Senior captain Bailey Weigel (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville East) posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Bears. Senior center Samantha Stayer (Allegany, N.Y./Allegany-Limestone) paced the Pioneers with a game-high 19 points.

After the teams worked through some first-game jitters, the Bears built a 7-3 advantage after a jumper from sophomore forward Patti Dorgler (Floral Park, N.Y./Archbishop Malloy) at the 15:57 mark. Utica senior guard Christy Traglia (Mohawk, N.Y./Mohawk) answered with a 3-pointer and it was nearly even for the rest of the half. A 3-pointer from sophomore Meghan Driscoll (Troy, N.Y./Troy) gave the Bears a 22-18 lead at 6:26. Senior forward Daronda Addison (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph) sank to free throws at 3:47 to give Potsdam its biggest lead of the half at 27-21. A late jumper from junior forward Katie LaVoie (Malone, N.Y./Franklin Academy) gave the Bears a 31-26 advantage at the break. Potsdam shot 46 percent from the floor in the opening period and was 4-of-8 from behind the arc.

Senior captain Veronica Sapp (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam) gave the Bears a seven-point lead 14 seconds into the second half, but the Pioneers wouldn't go away. Utica used a 23-5 run over the next 11 minutes build its largest lead of the game at 49-38. Stayer and Pioneer junior guard Mary Miceli (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) combined for 13 points during the stretch. Weigel and senior captain Colleen McNamara (Guelph, Ontario/Our Lady of Lourdes) got the Bears back within six with a 5-0 run, but Utica quickly extended its advantage back to 53-43 with 6:20 remaining. Weigel gave Potsdam one final push, scoring five straight points capped by a 3-point play to make it 53-48 with 4:17 to go. Utica pulled away a final time to earn the 65-54 victory.

Senior captain Carli Reynolds (Indian Lake, N.Y./Indian Lake) finished with nine points, while Sapp contributed eight points and seven boards. McNamara and LaVoie each added six points and four rebounds.

Miceli gave the Pioneers a 12-point, five-rebound effort. Graduate student forward Bridget Greenwald (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) recorded a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds and Traglia finished with nine points.

Potsdam shot nearly 39 percent from the floor to Utica's 34.5 percent, but the Pioneers finished with a 42-41 edge in rebounds. Utica sank 23 free throws in the contest.

The Bears are back in action in one week, when they face Alfred State in the Kevin Fee Roos Classic at SUNY Canton at 5 p.m.