NEW PALTZ, N.Y. -- The Fredonia women's basketball team dropped its contest against the New Paltz Hawks, 70-61, Friday night.

Senior Alexis Cheatham (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) led the Blue Devils with 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field, including 4-for-10 beyond the arc.

Fredonia led by as much as seven in the first frame after Sarah Sweazy (Rochester, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) converted a layup to go with 3:13 left, but New Paltz closed the quarter on a 6-1 run, trailing by two, 22-20.

The Blue Devils held their ground in the second quarter, not allowing the Hawks any closer than two points. Fredonia led 38-32 at halftime.

Cheatham and junior Jacque Law (Machias, N.Y./Pioneer) combined for 19 of the Devils' 38 first-half points on 7-of-11 combined shooting.

New Paltz (12-7, 9-4 SUNYAC) took its first lead since two minutes into the contest with 5:49 left in the third quarter after Morgan Roessler finished around the rim, making the score 42-41, Hawks.

Buckets by junior Alisha Szumigala (Forestville, N.Y./Forestville) and senior Khee Nance (Dunkirk, N.Y./Dunkirk) put Fredonia back ahead, and the Blue Devils took a 47-45 lead into the fourth quarter.

Kit Small drained a three-pointer on the opening possession of the quarter to give the Hawks the lead, 48-47, and they did not trail the rest of the game. New Paltz extended its lead to as much as nine, and the Devils were only able to climb within three after a Cheatham three pointer with 3:50 to play.

Late points from Small solidified a Hawk victory and a season sweep of the Devils. Small finished with 22 points and eight rebounds. Lindsay Bettke also tallied 22 on 9-of-21 shooting.

Law finished with nine points, all scored in the first half, and four rebounds. Sophomore Jenna Einink (Westfield, N.Y./Chautauqua Lake) netted eight points and snagged eight boards.

The Blue Devils shot 45 percent (25-of-56) from the field and turned the ball over 24 times compared to the Hawks' 41 percent (27-of-66) and 14 turnovers.

The Hawks recorded 19 points off turnovers.

Fredonia (15-6, 9-5 SUNYAC) is back in action tomorrow in Oneonta. Tip is scheduled for 4 p.m.