BOX SCORE

FREDONIA, N.Y. – The Fredonia State women's basketball team open its 2010-2011 campaign with a convincing 65-55 win over Nazareth in Steele Hall on Tuesday.

Junior Nicole Calbi (Olean) and sophomore Grace Moore (Fredonia ) led the Devil offense with 12 points each. Freshmen Marissa Cussins (Corning/Painted Post West) and Becky Hebert (Hilton) added to a balanced attack with 9 points apiece. Junior Liz Wierbinski (Camilus/West Genesee) had a game-high 10 rebounds for the Devils.

Nazareth (0-1)  was paced by Ashley Gallagher with 12 points, all in the first half. Jenee Vanderstyne chipped in 10 points.

The Devils opened the game with an aggressive full-court press and dominated the early going. They built a 16-6 lead at the 10:28 mark causing eight turnovers to that point.

Nazareth eventually tied the game at 20-all on Brittany Wilson's layup at 6:49.

From there, the Devils would pick up the pace on offense. Leading 31-25, back-to-back three pointers by Hebert and Cussins  would give the Devils a 12-point lead, 37-25 with 1:50 left to play. A free throw by Calbi would put the Devils up 38-25 at the break. They closed the half outscoring Nazaerth 17-3 over the final 7:08.

Moore led the Devils with eight first-half points.

Nazareth outscored the Devils, 30-27, in the second half. The Devils had led by as much as 16 with 4:01 left to play before the Flyers closed the gap.

The Devils travel to Penn State Behrend this weekend for the annual Lion Invitational.