POTSDAM, N.Y. -- The SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team received good news from Plattsburgh after falling to Cortland, 67-53, in its final home game of the season. Despite the loss, the Bears (10-13, 5-9) benefited from Plattsburgh's 62-52 loss to Oswego and clinched their first SUNYAC playoff berth since 1997-98.
Sophomore Maureen Curley (Madrid/Madrid-Waddington) scored nine points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Potsdam. Fellow sophomore Hannah Fairchild (Brushton/Brushton-Moira) also had nine points while freshman Rachel Graf (Elbridge/Jordan-Elbridge) put in nine.
Early in the first half, the Bears fell behind 17-10 before going on a 10-0 run, led by sophomore Roberta Gibson (Brooklyn/Midwood) and Graf who scored four points each. With four seconds left in the period, Curley pushed the ball up-court and nailed a long-range 3-pointer at the buzzer, giving Potsdam a 27-25 lead.
Cortland (21-1, 14-0), which clinched a share of the conference regular season title, responded to Curley's huge shot with a 23-6 run to go ahead, 48-33. The Red Dragons' key was their perimeter shooting. They had gone 0-for-5 from 3-point land in the opening half before shooting 6-for-9 in the second.
Red Dragon junior Sara Cavanaugh (Hastings-on-Hudson/Hastings) led all scorers with 21 points. Freshman Jessica Laing (Bloomville/South Kortright) had a double-double, scoring 18 points and hauling down 15 rebounds, while sophomore Maggie Byrne (Pearl River/Albertus Magnus) contributed 10 points and seven assists.
Potsdam will finish its SUNYAC schedule this weekend on the road. It will take on New Paltz (Friday, 6 p.m.) and Oneonta (Saturday, 2 p.m.).
SUNY Cortland 67, SUNY Potsdam 53