Blue Devils bounce Behrend
Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136
CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women's basketball
(BOX SCORE: Fredonia State 82, Penn State Behrend 77)
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Fredonia State came out quickly at the start of both halves Saturday in a 82-77 non-conference home win over Penn State Behrend.
The Blue Devils (5-1) shot well in both halves -- 42 percent in the first, and 61 percent in the second -- by getting the ball inside for easy baskets. A telling number in that regard -- 23 assists by Fredonia State, just seven for Behrend. In addition, Fredonia State outscored Behrend in the paint, 30-20, and had a 14-4 scoring edge in points off turnovers.
Junior forward Merissa Gaeta (Kirkwood/Windsor) poured in a season-high 27 points on 12-of-22 fieldgoal shooting. She also grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked three shots.
Junior forward Katie Landy (Jamestown/Southwestern) also had a double-double -- 12 points and 12 rebounds. Senior forward Angela Pucciarelli (Fredonia) added 16 points, including seven free throws in the game's final minute, while sophomore guard Caroline Hourihan (Buffalo/Nardin) added 10 points and five assists off the bench. Freshman guard Nicole Calbi (Olean) was the Blue Devils' top playmaker with eight assists.
Fredonia State led at halftime, 38-32, Saturday afternoon against Penn State Behrend but it could have been larger. Down 38-23 with 2:36 left, Behrend scored the last nine points of the half to close within six. The Lions were 9 of 9 from the foul line in the half, 15 of 19 in the game.
The Blue Devils game out strong in the second half and twice held leads of 16 points. Like at the end of the first half, they again had to hang on as Behrend mounted another furious comeback.
The Lions (1-2) pulled within five points three times, and once got within four points, 81-77, on a three-point basket by Amy Oldach (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria) with 10 seconds remaining. Forced the foul, the Lions had no choice to go after Pucciarelli, who was the Blue Devils' go-to player on inbound plays and had gone 6 of 6 in her previous three trips to the line in the final minute. Pucciarelli made the second of a two-shot free-throw chance to close the scoring with 8.0 seconds left.
Oldach and Kelly Nowacinski (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep) had 18 points each to lead the Lions. Natalie Engel (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) added 12 points.
The Blue Devils are back in action next Friday at New Paltz for their first SUNYAC action of the season.