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

CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Thurs., Feb. 1, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Preview

Hoop teams home Friday vs. Brockport

FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The Fredonia State men's basketball team is coming off its biggest win of the season. As a reward, they get to play the first-place team in the SUNYAC.

Fresh off a 78-75 overtime home win over Buffalo State, the Blue Devils (5-14, 2-9 SUNYAC) meet Brockport at 8 p.m. Friday in the Steele Hall Fieldhouse. The visiting Eagles lead SUNYAC with a 7-2 conference record (14-4 overall).

Led by Sherod Harris , Brockport is averaging 83.8 points per SUNYAC game and has reached the century mark in scoring four times this season, including back-to-back conference wins last weekend -- 103-71 over Oneonta, 109-81 over New Paltz. Harris averaged 20 points last week and was selected SUNYAC Co-Player of the Week.

On the other hand, the Blue Devils have won three straight home games, with the stirring victory Tuesday over Buffalo State the most recent. The Blue Devils scored the final 13 points of regulation to force overtime and had the Steele Hall faithful in a frenzy late in the game and into the overtime.

"Tuesday night's overtime win," head coach Kevin Moore said, "gives us a big boost of confidence going into (Friday's) game against Brockport. Brockport is very athletic and even more uptempo than Buffalo State. Once again, slowing the game down to a speed we're comfortable with (and) playing under control against their pressure are the two things that will be most important for us to succeed."

The Eagles won the first meeting between the teams, 70-62, last Nov. 28 at Brockport.

In the women's game Friday, Fredonia State will attempt to solidify its playoff chances against second-place Brockport, starting at 6 p.m. The Blue Devils (8-10, 4-7 SUNYAC) currently reside in seventh place, one game ahead of Potsdam. The top eight team qualify for the SUNYAC Tournament.

"We are excited about the new combination of players that have been working together on the court," head coach Donna Wise said. "Our recent back-to-back wins (over Plattsburgh and Buffalo State) have put a roar into our motor. With 10 players in the rotation, we are striving to finish the season strong and peak for the SUNYAC Tournament."

Brockport won the previous meeting, 62-48.

Notebook: With a collegiate-high 18 rebounds Tuesday vs. Buffalo State, junior Cheryl Kindzia (Williamsville/Williamsville North) is fifth all-time at Fredonia State with 577. She overtook Clare Crowley, who was on hand to see it happen. Now a Buffalo State assistant coach, Crowley had 574 rebounds over four seasons (2000-04). She also scored 1,133 points, the fifth Blue Devil woman -- and the most recent -- to reach 1,000 points. In comparison, Kindzia has 883 points heading into Friday's game vs. Brockport ... Senior guard Karolyn Baker (Olean/Olean) has 330 career assists, fourth all-time at Fredonia State and within striking distance of Gretchen Becker's 344 assists. Becker played with the Blue Devils from 1995-99 ... Senior forward Lisa Gentile had four three-pointers vs. Buffalo State, one short of her career-best and two short of the single-game school record ... On the men's side, senior guard Taha Alassari (Brooklyn/Sweet Home) enters play Friday with 960 career points.

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