QUINTIN JAMES
Staff Writer
The Fredonia women’s basketball team had one more game on the schedule this week before it started the playoffs, and the mood in the locker room was very upbeat. Before their season finale against Buffalo State, head coach Linda MacDonald said her team is taking it one game at a time.
“We always prep for the next game. We keep them centered on the now. They understand it’s one game at a time because we can’t prepare for two teams at once,” she said.
Even though the Blue Devils made the playoffs last year, the players are still excited for postseason play.
“It’s a new experience for the freshman and transfer students. The unknown creates some anxiety, but that could be a good or bad thing. We can’t think too ahead or think about the past,” said MacDonald.
While the younger players are rightfully nervous, the upperclassmen are getting used to this feeling. MacDonald explained that the upperclassmen are very engaged and have a sense of urgency that will help them in the playoffs.
The women’s basketball team is building a winning culture here at Fredonia. Fredonia has now clinched a playoff berth three out of the last four seasons, and things are looking up for the program.
MacDonald attributed that success to a lot of things, but mostly to her players. Great senior leadership, depth and the play of members like senior Alexis Cheatham from the outside and sophomore Jenna Einink in the post have turned the program into a legitimate force.
The last game of the season was against rival Buffalo State. The Blue Devils started off hot, getting off to a 19-6 first quarter lead. They never trailed in the game, as they held Buffalo State to 32 percent shooting and closed out the regular season with a 66-43 win.
Cheatham led the way with 21 points, going 7 of 11 from the field, including five threes. They led by as much as 29 points as Fredonia finished their regular season strong before the playoffs.
The Blue Devils are in the SUNYAC playoffs as the 5 seed. They will travel to Cortland to face the Red Dragons, who had an identical conference record as the Blue Devils (11-7). The winner of that game will go on to face the number-one seed in the playoffs, Geneseo, who are currently undefeated at 25-0.
Whoever the opponent is, MacDonald said the Blue Devils will simply do the things that got them to the playoffs: focus on shutting down the opponent’s best player, while using their own key players to advance. The team understands that it’s one and done from here on out, and they look to survive and live to play another game.