Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136

CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Thur., Feb. 21, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Basketball Preview

Men needs wins -- and help -- to reach post-season play

FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, the Fredonia State men's basketball team will be scoreboard watching. They can still make the SUNYAC Tournament, but will need some help.

The Blue Devils (7-16, 4-10 SUNYAC) kept their playoff hopes alive with a 79-70 win Tuesday at Buffalo State. The two teams are now tied for the fourth and final playoff seed in the Western Division of the conference.

The tie will be broken this weekend. The Blue Devils meet Oswego in Steele Hall 8 p.m. Friday, while the Bengals entertain Morrisville State at the same time. On Saturday afternoon, it's Morrisville State at Fredonia State, and Oswego at Buffalo State.

Short of finishing in fourth place outright, the Blue Devils face long odds of qualifying for the conference tournament. Of six possible tiebreaking scenarios, five favor Buffalo State. While a win over Oswego would improve the Blue Devils' chances, it would guarantee nothing.

"It’s very important for us," head coach Kevin Moore said, "to build on the win we had at Buffalo State on Tuesday. Defensively we did a great job against their quickness and size and ... we outrebounded them. We will have to do more of the same against a very explosive offense that Oswego brings."

The Great Lakers (17-5, 11-3 SUNYAC) are averaging 79 points per game. Conversely, the Blue Devils have been limiting opponents to 64.2 points per game, third best in the SUNYAC.

"As far as playoff implications go," Moore said, "our players know the importance this game holds in our drive to get in the SUNYAC post-season tournament."

Meanwhile, the Blue Devil women (7-15, 2-12 SUNYAC) can no longer qualify for the SUNYAC Tournament. Their remaining suspense surrounds the quest by senior forward Cheryl Kindzia (Williamsville/Williamsville South) to claim another all-time individual school record.

Already the leading scorer in the program since 1986-87, Kindzia needs eight rebounds to overtake Shelly Giardini (836 rebounds, 1991-95) as the category leader. She'll have ample opportunity --- the Blue Devils are at home 6 p.m. Friday vs. Oswego, and 2 p.m. Saturday vs. Morrisville State.

"Our team is heading into the weekend," head coach Donna Wise said, "with the goal of producing back to back wins as we end out the season."

In addition to Kindzia, two other seniors on the women's team -- guard Maria Scaffidi (Buffalo/Holy Angels) and forward Michelle Bull (Machias/Pioneer) -- will be closing out their collegiate playing days this weekend. On the men's side, guard Matt Moore (Fredonia), forward Adam Smith (Fredonia), and center Kyle Gordon (Canandaigua) will be making their final Steele Hall appearances.

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