The Racquette

Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Racquette Archives A determined Ashley Schaad sets up against a pair of defenders.

Media Credit: Potsdam Athletics Cortney Poirier was named Player of the Week on February 17th.

Rachel Graf scored 19 points and Courtney Poirier made four free throws in the final minute to give Potsdam the lead for good as the Bears upset Cortland, 62-60, in their final regular season game.

Despite the loss, Cortland is guaranteed a top-four finish in the league and a home quarterfinal playoff game Tuesday at 6 p.m. versus an opponent to be determined. Potsdam finished fifth in the SUNYAC and will travel to fourth ranked New Paltz for a 7 p.m. quarterfinal contest.

Jessica Laing led Cortland with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Sara Cavanaugh, the Red Dragons' lone senior, added 12 points and seven rebounds.

Potsdam held an eight point lead but allowed Cortland to rally with less than 12 minutes left and eventually took a 57-56 lead on Cavanaugh's free throw with 1:19 left. Poirier, however, made two foul shots with 59 seconds left and two more with 27 seconds remaining to give the Bears a three-point lead. Two Maureen Curley free throws iced the win with six seconds left.

Cortland led 24-15 with 5:50 left in the first half, but Potsdam went on a 12-2 run and took a 27-26 lead when Graf added two more free throws with six seconds left. Laing answered with a pair of foul shots of her own for Cortland to lead by one at half time.

Potsdam held Cortland to 29 percent shooting from the field, including shooting just 13% from three-point range. The Red Dragons scored half of their points on the foul line, making 30 of 37 attempts. Laing was 13-of-15 from the charity stripe. Potsdam went 17-of-22 from the foul line, with Graf finishing 8-of-8.

The Bears are now looking ahead to their match up with New Paltz. The Potsdam women made last year's playoffs for the first time since the 1997-98 season but lost in the first round to eventual SUNYAC Champions, Cortland. New Paltz, who has made the playoffs the past two seasons, also fell to Cortland last year in the semi-final round.

The Hawks won both contests against Potsdam this season. They first defeated the Bears 74-56 on February 1 and then again 73-56 on February 16. The Bears will look to turn their fortune around this Tuesday in New Paltz at 7pm.

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