CANTON, N.Y.—Three Bears reached double digits and two earned double-doubles as the SUNY Potsdam women's basketball (2-3) surged past host St. Lawrence University (2-3) for a 66-61 victory on Saturday afternoon. Freshman forward Jakia Howard (Syracuse, N.Y./Nottingham) recorded her first career-double with career-highs in points (17) and rebounds (10). Freshman guard Caroline LaFountain (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) scored 15 points and grabbed six boards and sophomore forward Devyn Elliott (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) had a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds.
 
Potsdam opened the contest on an 8-2 run over the first 1:34. Howards scored half the points during the stretch. The Saints slowly chipped away at the lead and jumper from Ava McCann gave them an 18-17 advantage after the first quarter. Elliott had six points in the first 10 minutes.
 
The teams were dead even in the second quarter with 12 points apiece, but SLU opened the period with five straight points for a 23-17 lead at 9:02. Elliott and Howard answered with four and two points, respectively to tie the game with 4:46 left in the half. Another 5-0 burst from the Saints made it a 30-25 contest at 2:09, but a jumper from sophomore forward Alexis Davis (Brooklyn, N.Y./Williamsburg H.S. of Architecture & Design) and a layup from Elliott got the Bears within 30-29 at the half.
 
SLU heated up in the third quarter, outscoring the Bears 20-9. A 12-4 start to the quarter gave the Saints a 42-33 lead at 5:21. A 3-point play from freshman guard Tsai Lewis (Cortland, N.Y./Cortland) made it 42-36, but St. Lawrence closed the quarter on an 8-2 run and led 50-38 after 30 minutes.
 
Potsdam fired on all cylinders in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Saints 28-11 and shooting 58-percent from the floor. An 18-6 run over the first 5:59, started by a LaFountain three and capped by a Howard jumper, got the Bears even at 56-56. The Saints briefly rebuilt a 61-56 lead on a layup from Katie Frederick and a 3-pointer from McCann, but they wouldn't score again as Potsdam sealed the win with a 10-0 run to close out the game. LaFountain and Howard each scored four of the 10 points.
 
Sophomore guard Dyamon Hunter (Bronx, N.Y./Thurgood Marshall Academy) finished with eight points and five assists. Lewis scored five and Davis had four.
 
Olivia Middleton and McCann each scored 16 points to lead the Saints. Frederick and Annabella Pugliese had eight each and Erin Kumler scored six.
 
The Bears are now off until their December 3 home opener against Bryant and Stratton of Syracuse. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.