FREDONIA, NY – The Alfred University women's basketball team continued their season with a 71-54 loss to Fredonia on Tuesday from Dods Hall.
 
The Saxons (3-4, 0-1 Empire 8) shot well from beyond the arc against the Blue Devils (6-1, 1-0 SUNYAC), shooting 41.7 percent from three-point territory.
 
Leah Harkenrider (Hornell, NY/Hornell) led Alfred University with a team-high 17 points to go with three rebounds and two assists. Felicia Stewart (Ann Arbor, MI/Pioneer) scored 13 points along with three boards. Grace Rittenhouse (Dansville, NY/Dansville) and Natalee Collins (Waterville, NY/Waterville) each added six points for AU.
 
"We competed at a much higher level today and really moved the ball well and took good shots offensively," Head Coach Mike Moskowitz said. "Defensively, we executed well in the first half, but when a team goes 9-of-15 from deep in the second half, it's tough to hang with them. We definitely did some good things, got back to our roots and I'm excited to prepare for a talented Houghton team on Saturday to finish out the first semester."
 
The Saxons relied on Harkenrider early in the opening quarter, as she was responsible for the team's first four points. Additional points from three different players resulted in a 9-0 run to allow Alfred University to lead by as many as six points. The defense limited the Blue Devils to just two points across the final five minutes before going into the second quarter with a 17-13 lead.
 
Fredonia climbed their way back into the game in the second quarter, taking back a one-point lead with just over three minutes to play in the first half. Stewart scored the final 11 points for AU before the team took a 34-30 advantage into the break.
 
A series of baskets from the Blue Devils tied the game with 7:03 remaining in the third quarter. The Saxons responded with five quick points, but a 14-0 run by Fredonia forced AU to play from behind. Late baskets from Rittenhouse and Jayda L. Felker (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post) cut the deficit, as the Saxons trailed 52-48 with one quarter to play. Jaidyn Chest (Mayfield, NY/Mayfield) was the first to score for Alfred University in the fourth quarter, but Fredonia limited the Saxons to just six total points in the quarter to close out the game and secure the win.
 
Alfred University will next resume Empire 8 competition on the road against Houghton University on Saturday at 2:00 PM.