FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Fredonia rallied in the second half for a 72-67 SUNYAC victory over Buffalo State in women's basketball at Steele Hall.

Alexis Cheatham (Lockport, N.Y.) led a balanced attack with 18 points, including an important three-point late in the game, while three other Blue Devils scored in double figures. Jacque Law (Machias, N.Y.) had 12 points, Kathryn Halloran (Angola, N.Y.) came off the bench for 11 points and seven rebounds, and Sabrina Macaulay (Newark, N.Y.) had 10 points and nine rebounds before fouling out.

Ashley Wallace had 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead Buffalo State. Niasha Houpe was the Bengals' top player off the bench with 12 points and seven rebounds.

In what was an otherwise even first half statistically, one number stood out: Fredonia's 10 turnovers to five by Buffalo State. Yet despite that disparity, the Blue Devils ended the half on a high note with a corner jumper by Kaylyn Billups (Buffalo, N.Y.) just ahed of the halftime buzzer. It cut the Buffalo State lead to 36-30.

The Blue Devils used the momentum to open the second half with a 21-10 run punctuated by a long lead pass by Cheatham to Katie Devine (Clarence, N.Y.), who got ahead of the defense for a fastbreak layup and a 51-46 Blue Devil lead.

Buffalo State took a timeout to regroup. The Bengals got a stop and a fastbreak layup by Keyonte Edwards, followed by another stop and a layup by Wallace to cut the Fredonia lead to 51-50. The Blue Devils withstood the run and increased their lead to 57-51 on a three-point basket by Jamie Curry (Ramsonville, N.Y.) off a kick out pass from Law. That forced another Buffalo State timeout.

Fredonia scored on its next possession. A high-low post play between Halloran and Macaulay resulted in a left-handed hook by Macaulay, who was fouled and converted the three-point play. It gave Fredonia its largest lead of the night, 60-51.

The Bengals mounted one final rally. They pulled within two, 64-62, on two free throws by Britnee Perry after Macaulay went to the bench with her fifth foul. Cheatham stemmed the tide with a fallaway banker on a Lebron-esque move down the lane, then completed the three-point play for a 67-62 Fredonia lead.

Buffalo State worked the ball inside to Wallace its next three possessions resulting in a basket, a free throw, and missed layup off an over-the-top inbounds pass. Curry grabbed the rebound and was fouled immediately. She made two free throws with 23.1 seconds left for a 69-65 Fredonia lead.

The Bengals got the ball to Wallace again and this time she drove the lane and scored to cut the margin to 69-67. On the insuing inbounds pass, the Bengals fouled Sammy Villarini (Hamburg, N.Y), and she made one of two free throws. After a desperation running one-hander by Buffalo State's Olivia Luciani, Law rebounded and completed the scoring with two free throws.

Fredonia improved to 6-8 overall and 3-5 in the SUNYAC while Buffalo State fell to 8-7 overall and 5-3 SUNYAC. Fredonia also added to its lead in the all-sports season-long Battle By The Lake with Buffalo State, 10-2. The Bengals earned their second point in the series earlier in the evening with a win in the men's game.

The Blue Devils are back at home Friday against New Paltz, followed by a Saturday afternoon date with Oneonta. Both games are in the Steele Fieldhouse.