Potsdam, N.Y. - Rugged defense was on display as the Clarkson University Women's Basketball team held the visiting SUNY Potsdam Bears to just 14 points combined over the second and third quarters, en route to a 63-46 win at Alumni Gymnasium, Tuesday evening.
The Golden Knights move to 4-2 overall with their second win in a row. The team will return to action on the 5th of December, traveling to RPI for a Liberty League opener.
The first quarter of action was even as both teams were locked trading baskets. Neither squad managed to lead by more than three over the opening ten minutes as Bella Doyle would account for five of the Clarkson points along with a three from Alexis Kress and layups from Kate Campbell and Fallon Griffin. The score would be tied at 12-12 headed into the second quarter.
Clarkson would open the second on a 5-0 run through the first four minutes, gaining the lead that would not be caught by the visitors through the remainder of the contest. DaeLynn Alcock would break the scoreless streak for the Bears with a free throw at the 6:21 mark, but a quick 6-0 from the Knights opened the lead back up to 10 just two minutes later. It would take Potsdam until the 3:31 mark to score again which cut the lead back to eight but two straight baskets from Campbell and Doyle pushed the advantage back to 27-15, in favor of the Knights with less than 90 seconds remaining in the half. Both teams would trade baskets as the time dwindled to the halftime break as Clarkson ended the first half up 31-19.
After a three by Griffin to open the third quarter, Olivia Cook got the Bears back to within 11 with two tough finishes in the paint. Another 6-0 scoring run for the Knights up to the 4:47 mark stretched it back to 40-23. Alcock again would be the one to break a nearly three minute drought for Potsdam with a wing three at 4:35 which preceded an 11-0 Golden Knight tear to end the quarter, putting the score at 51-26, with ten minutes left to play.
Griffin would again open the quarter with a catch and shoot three that was followed by a Campbell jumper and Maddy Polky free throw as the scoring streak would reach 17 straight for the Knights. Alcock would continue to battle in the paint with two layups, one leading to an and-one attempt but continuous answers from Clarkson would keep things out of reach. The Bears received a hefty late game surge in the form of Marygrace Guiney, who rattled off three threes for the visitors over just two minutes. The streak would prove to be too little too late as the Bears would score the final five points of the contest for the 63-46 final.
Turnovers plagued both teams as Clarkson registered 18 and Potsdam finished with 19. The Bears led in points off turnovers (21-19) and bench points (29-21) while Clarkson would hold a convincing edge in points in the paint (40-22) and second chance points (17-7). Doyle and Griffin would both score in double figures with 18 and 15, respectively. Griffin and Emma Chambers would lead the rebounding efforts with six apiece. Addie Kea tossed in seven points and five assists in a balanced effort for the Knights which saw scoring from nine different players. Lucie Scarpine led the Bears with 14 point off the bench, Alcock added 13 in the effort.
