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

CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Mon., Feb. 20, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Women's Basketball

Devils enter playoffs on a roll

FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Fredonia State enters the SUNYAC playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the conference.

The Blue Devils (16-8) have won five straight conference games heading into their first-round game tonight at Geneseo.

Game time is 7 p.m. with the winner advancing to a SUNYAC semifinal 8 p.m. Friday at the Utica Civic Center vs. the winner of tonight's New Paltz at Cortland first-round game.

"I am so very pleased with the success of the team this season," head coach Donna Wise said following practice Monday at Steele Hall. "Winning our last five straight conference games certainly should give us the momentum we need."

Geneseo has other ideas. The Blue Knights (16-9) defeated Fredonia State, 62-53, when the teams met for the only time during the regular season, Jan. 31, at Geneseo.

At the time, it was the Blue Devils' third straight league loss -- and it proved to be a pivotal game. By winning, Geneseo earned the head-to-head tiebreaker over Fredonia State. When the teams finished the regular-season tied for fourth place in the conference standings -- each at 11-5 -- it was Geneseo that was awarded the first-round home game.

"Geneseo has the most height in the conference so we recognize the importance of defensive positioning in limiting their offensive rebounds," Wise said. "We will also call upon our guards to apply solid defensive pressure on their guards.

"We need our defense to generate transition points as we force them to execute in an our up-tempo game."

That was pretty much the same recipe the Blue Devils used to upset Cortland last Saturday. The Red Dragons came to Steele Hall looking to run the SUNYAC table in the regular season -- 16 wins in 16 tries.

Instead, Fredonia State turned up the defensive pressure and took Cortland out of its normally efficient offense. As a result, points off turnovers favored the Blue Devils, 17-9. In addition, the Blue Devils had a 12-5 advantage in second-chance points.

"The win over Cortland was sweet and quite rewarding," Wise said. "We worked hard to defend our home court all season and to come away 10-1 at home is terrific. By winning Saturday, our players displayed why they, too, are a top team in the SUNYAC."

"To quote one of my players, 'If we can beat undefeated Cortland, we can beat anyone.' "

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