FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Senior
Sabrina Macaulay turned in a dominant performance in leading the Fredonia women's basketball team to a 69-64 win over the Oneonta Red Dragons on Friday evening, as the team tied its season win mark (17-7 overall), and set a new conference-win standard (12-5 SUNYAC).
Macaulay scored 29 points on nine of 13 shooting from the field, and was 11 of 14 from the free-throw line. She also grabbed 10 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season.
The 17 overall wins for Fredonia equals the most in program history. The 2005-2006 team headed by Donna Wise finished 17-10. The Devils' 12 SUNYAC wins is a new mark, eclipsing the 11 conference wins during that same '05-'06 season.
Macaulay was supported by 16 points from sophomore
Alexis Cheatham (Lockport, N.Y. / Lockport), while freshman
Jenna Einink (Mayville, N.Y. / Chautauqua Lake) added nine points and six boards. The Devils improve to 17-7 overall, and 12-5 in conference play.
Oneonta (16-8, 12-5 SUNYAC) had three players in double digits, led by Cara Adams with 17, Samantha Lisikatos with 13 and Lyteshia Price with 12.
Oneonta led 29-28 at halftime. Cara Adams did the bulk of the scoring with 12 points for the Dragons. Macaulay matched her with 12 points of her own.
Fredonia's largest lead of the first half was six points. Macaulay converted a layup in the opening seconds of the second quarter, putting the Devils up, 17-11. Oneonta's biggest lead of four points came late in the same quarter, 27-23, with 1:52 left.
Oneonta led 29-28 at the break.
The Dragons would hold the lead until the 2:31 of the third mark when Macaulay converted a layup to give Fredonia a 39-38 lead. Oneonta held a 45-44 lead at the end of the third when Lesakatos banked in a three to close out the frame.
The Devils opened the fourth quarter on a 14-5 run over the first 5:07 to take a 58-50 lead. Cheatham score seven and Einink five during that spurt.
From that point on, the teams essentially traded baskets, with neither team scoring on consecutive possessions in the final 4:53 of the game.
Fredonia held a significant advantage at the free-throw line, shooting 21 of 26 (81 percent) compared to just four of nine for Oneonta. The also set the tone defensively with 17 steals to Oneonta's eight.
Jamie Curry had five steal for the Devils.
Oneonta held a slight edge on the boards, 39-35.
The Devils play host to New Paltz at 2:00 on Saturday to close out the regular season. New Paltz currently leads the conference at 14-3. The Devils won an earlier matchup this season.
Geneseo is in second at 13-4, and Fredonia and Oneonta are tied for third place. At 12-5, Cortland has an opportunity to affect the Devils standings. The top two teams receive a bye, and the Nos. 3 and 4 seeds earn a home playoff game against the Nos. 6 and 5 seeds, respectively.