Photo by Kyle Vertin
CURTIS HENRY
Distribution Manager
The Fredonia women’s basketball team was able to scrape out a close win over the Buffalo State Bengals last Friday at Steele Hall. The game was one that was closely contested throughout, with Buffalo State never leading by more than eight and Fredonia never leading by more than 12.
The 85-78 victory was a true testament to the team’s ability to grind it out down the stretch. It also served as a reminder that basketball, more often than not, is a game of runs.
The initial push was made by Buffalo State in the first half. The Bengals went on a 10-0 run early in the second quarter to push their lead to 38-30 with only a few minutes remaining prior to the half. Fredonia countered with a 13-4 run of its own to close out the second quarter and head to halftime with a 43-42 lead.
After swapping baskets for the first few minutes of the second half to get the game to an even 57-57, the Blue Devils went on a quick 12-0 run to give themselves a 69-57 advantage with about 90 seconds left in the quarter. The teams went into the fourth with Fredonia holding a 71-60 lead.
The fourth quarter was chaotic on both ends of the floor. Buffalo State ran a full-court press defensively for the majority of the final 10 minutes, causing Fredonia turnovers and rushed shots throughout the duration of the quarter. With only a minute to play, Fredonia’s lead had been cut to only three points.
Photo by Kyle Vertin
“Coach told us in the last timeout to keep calm and just be smart. She told us to stop forcing passes and just take what the defense gives us,” said junior point guard Alexis Cheatham. Cheatham contributed 10 points and five assists on the night.
A combination of taking care of the ball and hitting free throws eventually shut down Buffalo State’s comeback attempt late, and Fredonia ended up taking the game by seven points.
Key contributors on the stat sheet for Fredonia were forwards freshman Jenna Einink and forward Sabrina Macaulay, who each tallied 26 points. Einink added 11 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and a steal on the night in what was an all-around impressive performance.
The win moves the team to 16-7 on the season with an 11-5 record in SUNYAC play. The team will play host in two key games this weekend against New Paltz and Oneonta, both of whom sport 12-3 conference records. Head Coach Linda Hill-MacDonald knows the importance of this week’s contests.
“It’s a big week for us. We’ll take a look at film and we’ll make defensive adjustments. These are two very good teams and having that home court advantage for us this weekend is a nice plus. It’s a big week with SUNYACs right around the corner,” said MacDonald.
“This weekend is crucial for us,” reiterated Cheatham. “We need to end the season with at least one win against these two teams. Hopefully we take both and really gain some confidence.”
The team has a chance to clinch a home game in the SUNYAC playoffs this weekend if it is to win both contests. A home game in SUNYACs would be the first in program history.
The Blue Devils will play host to Oneonta on Friday at 5:30 pm, and follow the next day playing host to New Paltz at 2 p.m.