JORDAN-CHRISTOPHER PURVIS
Staff Writer
Fredonia’s women’s basketball season came to a distasteful end in the semifinals against Geneseo this past Friday.
The Blue Devils came into the SUNYAC tournament fearless despite being listed as the No. 6 seed and going up against No. 3 Oneonta in the first round.
Fredonia upset Oneonta, 59-51 in the SUNYAC first-round game Tuesday night.
“After the loss against Geneseo, I was feeling pretty upset and frustrated honestly. I knew we didn’t play our best and I felt like we could have at least made it a little more difficult for Geneseo to earn their spot in the championships,” said junior guard Anna Chiacchia. “But after that game, I didn’t really think of that as our last game of the season, I now think of our game before that against Oneonta as our last game because that was the last time our team really came together and battled hard to take down a team. It was an amazing feeling and definitely the highlight of the season. I think that is the game we should think about when we reflect back on the season and not that last game against Geneseo.”
Sarah Cartmill was named head coach of Fredonia Blue Devil Women’s Basketball in July of 2018. The position was previously held by Linda Hill-MacDonald who left Fredonia in May of 2018 to become the assistant coach at Canisius College. In her first season as head coach, Cartmill has led the blue devils to a record of 12-15, and their second playoff appearance in the past three years.
“It was filled with a lot of ups and downs and a lot of learning,” said Cartmill. I’ve been lucky to work with a great group of young ladies who embraced the change of culture and change in system and rolled with the punches. We set ourselves up for some great things moving forward.”
Senior athletes moving on from the Big Blue family are guard Justice Nauden, guard
Sarah Sweazy and forward Jenna Einink.
“This group of Seniors helped lead the charge of acceptance and growth. I am grateful to have been able to coach them this season and know they all have big things ahead of them,” said Cartmill. They have left the program better than they found it and should be very proud of themselves and their time as a Fredonia Women’s Basketball player.”
SUNY New Paltz secured their program’s fourth State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) title against SUNY Geneseo in overtime this past Saturday. As a result, the Hawks now have a secured spot in the NCAA Tournament.