FREDONIA, N.Y. – The College at Brockport Women's Basketball played its heart out in a tremendous game that could not be settled in regulation during the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Quarterfinal matchup on the road against Fredonia, falling in the opening playoff round 89-81 Tuesday evening.
Brockport shot more efficiently than Fredonia especially from beyond the arc going 10-of-17 compared to Fredonia's 7-of-24 rate. The Golden Eagles largest lead came in the third quarter when they took an 11 point advantage with seven minutes remaining in the quarter.
Brockport 21- Fredonia 15 First Quarter
Brockport came out strong in the opening minutes of play, fighting for good offensive looks in front of an energetic crowd with a sea of blue at midcourt in the stands. Both Olivia Suhr and Schyler Laux fought for second chance baskets that gave Brockport an early lead. The energy was tangible as Fredonia fought back to take the lead after a Hannah Spencer three pointer.
The Green and Gold retook the lead when the offense worked the ball around the perimeter. Laux caught a pass on the wing and fed Suhr down low. Suhr banked in her shot for the 11-10 lead over the outstretched hands of Fredonia's defender.
Fantastic ball movement and great hustle pushed Brockport back ahead following a 5-0 Blue Devil run. Faith Welch kicked a pass over to the corner finding an open Megan Anagnostopulos cutting Fredonia's lead. On the next Golden Eagle possession Brockport took the lead when Welch contributed her own three pointer.
Spencer drove in the lane during the closing seconds of play appearing to go up for a shot until she sent the ball under the rim for an easy Suhr layup which gave the Green and Gold a 21-15 lead after the first quarter.
Brockport 45- Fredonia 36 Second Quarter
Besides a mid-range jumper from Laux, free throws were the only points of the quarter in the first three minutes of play. Brockport's lead was maintained at 24-18. Suhr put Brockport up by eight when she backed in towards the paint getting the ball on a feed from Erin Cunningham. Laux's second jumper of the quarter pushed Brockport's lead to 10.
Fredonia pushed back with an 8-0 run after Cunningham's second effort bucket. Laux continued to have the hot hand making another midrange jumper. Welch added a jumper on a nice pass from Spencer. Fredonia answered with a three which was followed by Spencer's and one play. The Golden Eagles advantage was 37-29 with less than two minutes remaining.
Becky Rossier's layup in the paint helped Brockport regain a 10 point advantage before Fredonia hit a three pointer. The Golden Eagles worked the shot clock passing the ball around the wing until it found an open Spencer in the corner for the neutralizing triple.
Welch made a circus shot to close out the half going with her opposite hand to knock down the three pointer as time ran out. The Golden Eagle lead was nine points as it held a 45-36 advantage heading into the second half.
Fredonia 57 – Brockport 49Third Quarter
Brockport added to its lead outscoring Fredonia 4-2 in the first three minutes of the third on baskets by Rossier and Welch. The Blue Devils scored two quick baskets in the next minute cutting the Green and Gold lead down to 49-42.
The third quarter was a defensive battle as both teams clamped down removing easy scoring opportunities. With 3:30 left in the third Brockport lead was down to three as the Fredonia crowd roared to the excitement of the Blue Devil band in attendance.
Fredonia tied things up nearly a minute later, evening things up at 49-all before taking the lead on a deep three pointer. The Blue Devils led 57-49 after another deep three pointer in the closing seconds of the third.
Brockport 77 – Fredonia 77 Fourth Quarter
Hannah Rehbaum banked in the opening basket of the quarter as the Golden Eagles worked to silence the crowd. Rehbaum continued the trend on the next possession driving down the lane for another lay in cutting the Green and Gold deficit to four points. Fredonia answered back with three points which were neutralized by Welch's triple. Welch stepped in Fredonia's passing lane on the next possession before racing down the lane for the fast break layup. The Golden Eagles trailed by two points with a 60-58 score with 7:45 left.
The Blue Devils answered with a five point run as the score was 65-59 with six minutes left. Laux hit a big three pointer to keep the Golden Eagles in the game, bringing Brockport within five points with a little less than five minutes remaining to play.
After Welch's shot was initially blocked, Suhr grabbed the offensive board and kicked it back out to Welch who hit the deep three. Brockport trailed by two points with two minutes to go following the shot. Two free throws following the triple put Fredonia ahead 74-71 with 1:52 left to go.
Welch drew a critical foul on a shot from downtown and she made all three clutch charity stripe shots which brought Brockport back within three points with less than a minute to play. The Golden Eagles caused a turnover on the ensuing play, trailing 77-74 with 32 seconds to go.
Rehbaum found an open zone behind the arc after Brockport nearly turned the ball over and sank the trey to even things up at 77 apiece. Fredonia had 12 seconds left to work for the final possession but Brockport's defense stifled things to go into overtime.
Fredonia 89 – Brockport 81 Overtime
Spencer gave the Golden Eagles the lead when she sank two free throws a minute into the extra frame. Fredonia usurped the lead when it made a three point play the hard way. A two pointer from the Blue Devils stretched their lead to 82-79. Rehbaum drained two more clutch free throws as the Golden Eagles pulled within one with 2:30 remaining. Free throws down the stretch separated Brockport and Fredonia in the final minutes of play.
Welch led the team with 23 points converting four-of-six three pointers as three other Golden Eagles topped double-digit figures. Spencer, Laux and Suhr all scored at least 10 while Rehbaum finished a point shy of double digits. Suhr was a force on the glass leading all rebounders with 15 boards with Rehbaum contributing eight rebounds. Welch and Spencer both finished the game tied with five assists each.
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