POTSDAM, N.Y. - Despite shooting the best they have from the field since returning from winter break (25-for-53, .472), the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team still fell to the hosting Potsdam Bears, 73-80. The Bears now move up to 2-7 in State University of New York Athletic Conference play, 3-13 overall, while the Cardinals drop to 0-9 in the conference, 2-13 for the season.

Plattsburgh held the lead for much of the beginning of the first half, starting with an early 2-0 advantage following a jumper by Stephanie McCoy 17 seconds into play. However, Potsdam took over with just under six minutes left in the half after Rachel Graf sank a shot from behind the arc to put the Bears up by two (27-25). Potsdam would enter halftime with a solid 36-32 advantage over the Cards.

Entering the second half, the Cardinals would tie the game up twice before taking a one-point lead (53-52) at the 11:01 mark. The Bears quickly countered and steadily strengthened their lead, holding as high as a 13-point advantage with just two minutes to play. Plattsburgh would cut that down to seven, but time would run out before they could truly make a comeback.

Stephanie McCoy posted a career-high 23 points for Plattsburgh and also led the squad with four assists. Taylor Amarando sank 18 points for the team and Molly Harte recorded 12, along with a team-high eight boards and four steals. Harte and Catherine Cassidy both racked up a block each during the contest.

For Potsdam, Cortney Poirier topped both teams with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Graf recorded 14 points, followed by Brittany Whitton with 13 and Aimee Kellicutt with 11. Graf dished out five assists and Poirier and Whitton matched each other for a team-high three steals apiece.

Next up, Plattsburgh takes on Oneonta at home on Friday at 6 p.m.