Kindzia sets new school record
Blue Devils fall short in pair of weekend games
CALEE PRINDLE
Staff Writer
The women's basketball team had a shot to add to their win column but was blocked by two of their SUNY Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) competitors. The Blue Devils faced the Brockport Golden Flyers on Friday, Feb. 1, which began their weekend of heart-filled, record-breaking action.
Senior forward Cheryl Kindzia knew the likelihood of making Fredonia women's basketball history as she took the floor Friday night. Already accumulating 1,238 points, she trailed the record for highest career points by only 14.
The Blue Devils came out strong in the first half as they led throughout by as many as 10 points. They entered the locker room at halftime with a solid 31-22 lead against the Golden Flyers.
Into the second half, Brockport tallied five points. Kindzia responded with a lay-up making her Fredonia's highest career point scorer on the women's team.
As the ball left the tip of the net, fans stood and began clapping, while Kindzia's fellow teammates and coaches hugged her with congratulations. The team took to the court for a picture as they held up a banner that read, "Congratulations Cheryl."
"It never crossed my mind until the beginning of my senior year," Kindzia said. "My coach [had] told me I was in reach of breaking the all time leading record. Then, it became one of my goals."
Kindzia has surpassed Shelly Giardini, who held the record by collecting 1,251 points during the years 1991-1995.
The Blue Devils' lead began to dwindle but their hope never subsided. The scoreboard read 3:36 when the Golden Flyers fought back, taking the lead 60-59 off of a three-pointer by senior guard Ashley Broadhurst. Kindzia sank two free throws but was shortly contested again as Broadhurst sank another three-point basket.
Kindzia was still not done leading her team as she tied the score 63-63 with only 2:06 left in regulation. The Golden Flyers fought back, only to capture a two-point lead of 65-63. Junior forward Angela Pucciarelli scored for the Blue Devils, to tie the game one last time. The scoreboard read 65-65.
The Golden Flyers' Courtney Himes' drive to the hoop left her fouled and on the line, shooting two free throws with 12.9 seconds remaining. After missing her first attempt, Himes' second shot fell in. The Blue Devils failed to execute on their final possession due to a turnover. The final buzzer rang, leaving the score at 66-65.
"We had chemistry and heart," said sophomore forward Alexandria Haitz. "We were all on the same page. Even though we were the underdogs, we almost took over because we were working so well together."
Kindzia ended the game with 24 points and nine rebounds. Pucciarelli pulled together 13 points and eight rebounds, while Haitz summed up 11 points for the night.
After the disappointing loss, the Blue Devils were back the following night to take on the Geneseo Knights. The game began to look shockingly similar to its predecessor, except in reverse.
In the first half, there were five ties and five different lead changes. By halftime, the score was tied at 30-30. Pucciarelli had already gathered 10 points just in the first half alone.
The back and forth battle was soon put to rest in the second half, as the Knights took the lead for good. The Blue Devils caught up to within one point as the score stood at 48-47. It seemed as though the Knights did not take a liking to the Blue Devils being so close behind as they gained a solid lead of 62-51.
The score stayed at a distance until the final buzzer rang and the scoreboard lights shined 75-63, capturing a win for Geneseo.
Pucciarelli added another 10 points in the second half leaving her tied as the lead scorer of the night with Kindzia as they both netted 20 points apiece. Kindzia also contributed 10 rebounds.
"We need to put together an entire game of basketball and play for 40 minutes,"
said Pucciarelli. "We have the talent on our team; we just need to make the right decisions to come out with the win."
The women's basketball team fell to an overall record of 6-12 and 1-9 in the SUNYAC. The Blue Devils will take on Oswego at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22 at home.
