CORTLAND, N.Y. -- The Fredonia women's basketball team led late, but was unable to hold on, dropping a 77-69 decision at Cortland. The Devils held a 67-65 lead with just over three minutes left, but allowed Cortland to finish on a 12-2 run to claim the victory.

Junior guard Alexis Cheatham (Lockport, N.Y. /Lockport)  scored a game-high 22 points, shooting four of six from three-point range and four of four from the free-throw line.  She added four assists. Sabrina Macaulay (Newark, N.Y. / Newark) added 14 points and seven boards. Jenna Einink (Mayville, N.Y. / Chautauqua Lake) had 13 points, eight rebounds and seven steals off the bench. Jacque Law (Machias, N.Y. / Pioneer) added nine points and eight boards.

The Devils fall to 9-5 in the conference, while Cortland improves to 8-5. Overall, Fredonia stands at 14-7 and the Dragons improve to 13-7.

Alyssa Crosby had 19 points for the Red Dragons, including eight of eight from the free-throw line. Stephanie Rice added 19 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Both teams traded quick threes to open the game. Cortland then went on a 10-2 run to lead 13-5 midway through the first quarter, which would be its biggest lead of the half.

The Devils would overtake Cortland midway through the second quarter. Down 21-16, Fredonia used back-to-back three pointers from Cheatham and Law to take a one point lead.

The Devils nursed a 28-24 lead with with three minutes left in the half. Cortland went on an 11-0 run to re-take the lead, and would go into the break with a 35-30 advantage.

The Devils again came back in the third quarter. A buzzer-beating layup by Einink brought Fredonia within two, 52-50, heading into the final frame.

Einink and Macaulay both converted layups to open the fourth quarter to give the Devils a 54-52 lead, their first of the half.

Over the final 8:30, there would be eight lead changes before Cortland was able to put away the game with its final run. The Red Dragons scored the game' s final eight points, shooting a perfect eight for eight from the line.

The team returns to the hardwood on Tuesday when the travel to Brockport for a 5:30 tipoff.


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