'POTSDAM, N.Y. 1/4/03– Freshman Stacey Morse (Lebanon, N.H.) came off the bench to score a season-high 19 points, Hayley Alaimo (Ellington, CT) finished with 17points, and Julie Tardif (Atkinson, N.H.) pulled down a career-best 14 rebounds to lead the Keene State College women's basketball team to a come-from-behind 71-62 victory over Baruch (N.Y.) College in an opening round game of the SUNY-Potsdam Tournament played on Saturday.

With the win, Keene State (6-4) advances to the tournament championship on Sunday (3 p.m.) where they will face host SUNY-Potsdam. Potsdam defeated D'Youville College of Buffalo, N.Y.,    (74-46) in the other first round contest.

Trailing 39-33 at the half, the Owls took their first lead of the second half (43-41) on a jumper by Cathy Mechare (Falls Village, CT) at the 14:58 mark.  After Baruch went ahead again 50-49 with 7:49 to play, KSC outscored the Stateswomen 22-12 the rest of the way to notch the win.

Andrea Arsenault (Dover, N.H.) also finished in double figures for KSC with 14 points and seven rebounds.  Transfer Brittany Faulkner (Lebanon, N.H.), who was playing her first game for the Owls, had two rebounds and one assists in seven minutes of playing time.

Jamees Wright had a game-high 22 points and Stephanie Trahan added 20 points to lead Baruch (6-2). Kate Sullivan led Potsdam with 21 points and five rebounds in its first round win over D'Youville College.

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