Moore's buzzer basket edges Bears
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women's basketball
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Fredonia State's Grace Moore (Fredona) scored the winning basket as time expired Friday for a 63-62 SUNYAC home win over the Potsdam Bears.
The Bears had just taken a 62-61 lead on a jumper by Rachel Graf (Elbridge/Jordan-Elbridge) with six seconds left, the third of four lead changes in the final 21 seconds. The Blue Devils quickly inbounded the ball and found Moore streaking up the right sideline. She drove toward the basket banked in the winning shot as the final buzzer sounded.
Fredonia State improved to 6-2 and 2-0 in the SUNYAC, while Potsdam fell to 1-9 and 0-3.
The Blue Devils trailed 29-22 at the half but cut their deficit to one point on consecutive three-point baskets by Nicole Calbi (Olean) and Moore. They tied the scored four times before taking their first lead of the second half, 37-35, on a running one-hander by Calbi.
Calbi's basket was part of a 24-8 run which opened up a 46-37 lead with 8:11 left. But Potsdam would not go away quietly. The comeback included six straight free throws by Aimee Kellicutt (Lisle) in the final minute, the last one resulting in a 60-59 Potsdam lead with :21 to go.
Fredonia State regained the lead with a short bank shot Moore with :15 left, a basket similar to her winning shot moments later -- but not before Kelllicutt found Graf uncovered in the right win. Her short jumper enabled the Bears to regain the lead, 62-61.
Graf had 11 points in the first half to lead the Bears to a 29-22 advantage. She and Cortney Poirier (Moira/Brushton-Moira) finished with 13 points each, while Kellicutt led the Bears with 18 points, six rebounds, and four steals. Katie Landy (Jamestown/Southwestern) led the Blue Devils with 13 points, Calbi and Merissa Gaeta (Kirkwood/Windsor) had 11 each, and Moore finished with 10 points. Gaeta grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
Both teams are back in action 2 p.m. Saturday -- Potsdam at Buffalo State, and the Blue Devils at home vs. Plattsburgh.