Special to the OBSERVER

NEW PALTZ — The Fredonia women’s basketball team pulled within one point late in the fourth quarter before dropping a 64-55 contest at New Paltz on Saturday afternoon. Jenna Einink (Westfield / Chautauqua Lake) poured in 19 points for the Blue Devils.

Down 13 with 7:55 left to play, Fredonia went on a 13-1 run to make it a 56-55 game with 3:25 left on the clock. New Paltz scored the game’s final eight points — five free throws and a three pointer — to take home the victory. Marion Dietz scored seven of the eight points to finish the night with 20 points. Rachel Simon also had 20 points for the Hawks.

Fredonia started well and mounted a 28-25 lead at the half. Their biggest lead of four points, 18-14, came at the end of the first quarter. Einink had 13 of her points prior to the break.

Deitz nailed a three pointer to open the second half and tie the game at 28-all.

Fredonia then dug themselves a hole, allowing the Hawks to go on a 15-2 run over a four-minute span. New Paltz led 43-30. The Hawks lead would go as high as 16 following a three pointer by Simon that put them up 50-34. The third quarter ended with the Hawks on top 52-40.

Turnovers hurt the Devils. They had 26 miscues compared to only seven for New Paltz. The Haws had 29 points off turnovers, while the Devils had eight.

Fredonia outrebounded New Paltz 42-34 and shot 47 percent (23 of 49) from the floor to New Paltz’s 31 percent (21 of 68).

The Hawks had a 10-5 edge in three pointers, and went to the free-throw line 17 times compared to just seven for Fredonia. New Paltz converted 12 of 17 charity attempts, while Fredonia was five of seven.

New Paltz improves to 10-6 overall and 6-4 in the SUNYAC.

Justice Nauden had eight points for the Devils, and Jacque Law finished with six assists, six rebounds, and four points. She now sits at 991 career points. Sydney Turley added seven points off the bench.

Fredonia stands at 7-11 and 5-6 in SUNYAC play. The Devils travel to Buffalo State next Saturday.

Men’s basketball

Devils can’t hold back Hawks

NEW PALTZ — The Fredonia men’s basketball team held a 12-point lead at halftime, but could not hang on in a 72-62 loss at New Paltz. Ian Helps led the Devils with 16 points and Kay Jackson added 12. Isaiah Ice had a team-high eight rebounds.

Fredonia led 6-0 and quickly worked up to a 10-point lead, 14-4. Jackson had six of the team’s first 14 points.

Fredonia’s biggest lead of 16 came following back-to-back threes by Colden George and a layup by Helps, to give them a 36-20 advantage with 2:53 left in the first.

The Devils held a 38-26 lead at the half. Helps had 10 points and George had eight at the break.

New Paltz regrouped and outscored the Devils 20-6 over the first 8:21 of the second half. A three pointer by Tristan Wissemann put the Hawks up 46-44. Wissemann hit a three on the next possession, and a layup by Brandon Guest extended the run to 25-6 as the Hawks then led, 51-44.

Fredonia’s Jackson nailed a three halfway through the period to end the run.

After a pair of free throws by Wissemann, the Devils got a layup from Helps and a pair of free throws and a layup by Ice to tie the game at 53.

The teams traded baskets to tie the game again at 55 with 5:51 to play. New Paltz scored the next three baskets to take the lead for good.

The Hawks (6-11, 3-7 SUNYAC) were led by Guest with 18 points on nine of 11 shooting to go along with eight rebounds. Wissemann added 13 points.

The Devils (2-15, 0-11 SUNYAC) travel to Buffalo State next weekend.