POTSDAM, N.Y. -- Sophomore Maureen Curley (Madrid/Madrid-Waddington) had a double-double, finishing with 17 points and 15 rebounds, but the SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team lost to New Paltz, 60-46, in its first SUNYAC game of 2007.
Freshman Cortney Poirier (Moira/Brushton-Moira) scored nine points and sophomore Hannah Fairchild (Brushton/Brushton-Moira) made four assists for the Bears (6-6, 1-3), who were stunned by New Paltz's late 16-6 run.
The Bears did not frequent the free throw line, going only 1-for-3 from the stripe. Meanwhile, the Hawks went 26-for-32 (81.3 percent) and built their lead by making several free throws in the final minutes.
Freshman Chelsea Clarke (Ithaca/Lansing) led New Paltz (8-3, 4-0) with 16 points and seven rebounds. Classmates Carly Minehan (Albany/Albany) and Kristen Sitek (Ellington, Conn./Ellington) added 11 points apiece.
Senior Kerri Kelty (Valley Stream/Valley Stream) made nine rebounds to lead New Paltz on the boards. She also had five assists while Minehan and junior Amber Sohns (Delhi/Delaware Academy) contributed seven rebounds each.
Potsdam's women will return to action Saturday at 2 p.m. when they host Oneonta at Jerry Welsh Gymnasium.