POTSDAM, N.Y. --- The SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (8-15, 5-12 SUNYAC) fell to SUNY New Paltz (20-4, 16-1 SUNYAC) 83-69 on Friday night. The Hawks led by double-digits for the majority of the contest, thanks to their defense and 10 three pointers. After the Bears cut the lead to nine in the third, New Paltz turned up their defense and forced turnovers to keep Potsdam at bay and win the game. Senior guard Abbey Smith (Bainbridge, N.Y./Bainbridge-Guilford scored a season-high 19 points. Freshman guard Devyn Elliott (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) and sophomore center Naya Walters (Bronx, N.Y./Women's Academy of Excellence) scored 14 points each. Rachel Simon led the Hawks with 19 points and grabbed five rebounds. Marion Dietz added 17 points.

Paige Niemeyer and Smith opened up the scoring for their respective teams. Simon hit the first shot behind the arc from the right wing giving the Hawks an early 7-4 lead. After the two teams exchanged baskets, Dietz' went on a personal 5-0 run. First with her offensive putback, followed by her three-pointer from the right corner. The Hawks led 20-12 after one quarter.

New Paltz kept their foot on the pedal by taking their largest lead of the half (14) after another offensive putback. After Elliott finished a layup on contact, Simon hit a three from the left wing on the other end, forcing a Bears timeout with 6:27 in the second. Coming out of the timeout, the Bears shot themselves back into the game with threes from Smith and Elliott. Madison Van Pelt's steal and fastbreak layup put the Hawks up 39-27 at halftime.

Elliott opened up the scoring with a layup after a spin move. The Hawks responded on the other end with another three pointer from Simon. On the next play, sophomore guard Carly Shear (Newark, N.Y./Newark) hit a three-pointer of her own. The Hawks carried on their first half defense into the second, forcing turnovers on the Bears and capitalizing in transition. Late in the third quarter, New Paltz responded with their defense. Their defense and interior scoring put the home team up 15 going into the fourth.

The two teams exchanged baskets to begin the final quarter. Midway through the fourth, Potsdam eventually got within single digits after free throws by Smith, however New Paltz responded with their defense. Nicole Ziogas' 10 straight points for the Hawks kept the Bears at bay after their run. During the run, Ziogas hit two threes to give New Paltz' the 17 point advantage. In the later stages of the fourth, Potsdam wasn't able to get enough stops to begin another run, and the Hawks secured the 83-69 victory.

The Bears shot 59 percent from the field and 42 percent from three point range, while the Hawks shot 44 percent and 42 percent from three point range as well.

Madison Van Pelt and Ziogas added 12 points each for the Hawks on the night.

Potsdam will play their season finale tomorrow against Oneonta at 2 p.m.