FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The Cortland women's basketball team took down Fredonia, 69-63, on Saturday. The loss dimmed the Devils' hopes of hosting a home playoff game and they will now need help have a return date to Steele Hall.

Alexis Cheatham (Lockport, N.Y. / Lockport) finished with 21 points -- the fifth time in the last six games she went over 20. Jenna Einink (Westfield, N.Y. / Chautauqua Lake) added 11 points and four assists, and Kathryn Halloran (Angola, N.Y. / Immaculata) finished with six points and a team-high six rebounds.

Cortland received 21 points from Cassidy Chapko and 17 points and 10 rebounds from Stephanie Rice.

The Devils led 34-28 at the half and were aided by some hot shooting. They went 14 of 26 (54 percent) from the floor, while Cortland was 12 of 31 (39 percent). Cheatham had nine first-half points, all via the longball. Rice led Cortland with 12 points.

Cortland eventually tied the game at 41-all at the 4:02 mark of the third on a Chapko three. Alyssa Crosby gave the Red Dagons the lead on a three-point play.

The Devils responded by scoring the next seven points. A layup and a pair of free throws by Einink gave the Devils the lead. Cheatham followed with a contested three to put the Devils up, 48-44.

From that point, Cortland went on a 17-3 run, finishing it off with 11 straight to take control of the game.

A three pointer by Khee Nance (Dunkirk, N.Y. / Dunkirk) ended the run, with the Devils trailing by seven. They would cut the lead to five points, 63-58, after back-to-back layups by Cheatham with 1:36 to go, but were unable to overcome the deficit in the final minute.

With the loss, the Devils now need help if they are to earn home game in the SUNYAC Tournament. The Devils need to defeat Buffalo State, and Oneonta needs to lose to both Potsdam and Plattsburgh next weekend. Otherwise, Fredonia will be on the road to open the post season.

The Devils celebrated Senior Day. Cheatham, Jamie Curry (Ransomville, N.Y. / Wilson) and Halloran were all four-year players, and Nance played two seasons. Curry and Cheatham started all 24 games so far this season, and Halloran started all but one game. Nance started a pair of games and was one of the key figures off the bench.
 

Fredonia travels to Buffalo State next Saturday to wrap up the regular season.