UTICA, N.Y.—Utica College (2-0) defeated the SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (1-2) 83-57 on Tuesday evening. Sophomore forward
Devyn Elliott (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) and sophomore guard
Dyamon Hunter (Bronx, N.Y./Thurgood Marshall Academy) scored 18 and 15 points, respectively. Freshman forward
Jakia Howard (Syracuse, N.Y./Nottingham) added eight points.
The Pioneers opened the contest on a 10-2 run over the first 2:23 and Potsdam struggled to get back into the contest. With one second left in the first quarter, Nicolette Conklin was fouled behind the arc and hit all three of her free throws to give Utica a 30-14 lead. Elliott and Howard each had six points in the opening 10 minutes.
A 9-0 run by the Bears early in the second quarter on five points from Hunter and four from Elliott made it 32-24 contest at the 8:34 mark. With 5:41 left in the half, Hunter drained her second three to get the Bears within 37-29. However, the Pioneers responded with a 14-4 stretch to reach the break up 51-33. Hunter had 10 points for Potsdam in the second and Elliott added five to her total.
Utica pulled away in the third quarter, opening up its biggest lead of the contest at 71-39 at 2:01. The Bears closed the period with a 7-0 run and trailed 71-46 after 30 minutes. Elliott scored seven points in the third, including a 3-pointer, and Hunter had four.
The final 10 minute were nearly even, with Utica edging Potsdam 12-11 to close out the 83-57 win. Hunter and sophomore guards
Lauren Martin (Akwesasne, N.Y./Salmon River) and
Katelyn Flanagan (Canton, N.Y./Hugh C. Williams) each hit threes in the fourth quarter.
Conklin led all scorers with 28 points and Sydney Przgoda posted a double-double for the Pioneers with 20 points and 16 rebounds.
The Bears are back in action next Tuesday when they head across town to face Clarkson at 5 p.m.