HOUGHTON, NY— Rae White scored 23 points to lead the visiting SUNY Fredonia Blue Devils past the Houghton Highlanders in the first game of the new year, 68-52.
 
The Blue Devils led by six points following the first quarter, and stretched their lead to nine in the second before Caitlyn Cybart hit a three to pull the Highlanders back within six.  A pair of baskets put Fredonia back up by 11 before a layup by Cybart sent the teams into the break with the Blue Devils leading, 29-20.
 
Fredonia opened the second half with a 7-0 run, building their lead to 16.   Houghton scrapped back, as a pair of back-to-back layups cut the Blue Devils lead to 10 points.
 
The Highlanders would come as close as nine points in the final quarter, on a Brooke Lewandowski layup, but would never completely close the gap as the Blue Devils pulled away down the stretch.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 52 | SUNY Fredonia – 68
Records: Houghton: 2-9 | SUNY Fredonia: 4-4
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton College | Attendance: 135

NOTABLE STATS
>> Emie Taylor scored 11 points on 5-of-7 from the floor, and grabbed eight rebounds in only 16 minutes of play.  Hannah and Caitlyn Cybart scored 14 and 12 points apiece to round out a balanced Houghton attack.
 
>> Cori Beck dished out seven assists, giving her 319 for her career, only 16 behind Sarah Tooley (1998-2002) who holds fourth place on the all-time list.    The all-time Houghton women's assist leader is Wendy Ivey (1997-2001), with 407.
 
>> Anna Chiacchia went 6-for-11 on the night, picking up 14 points for Fredonia.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders open Empire 8 conference play on the road next Friday, January 10, when they travel to Rochester to take on the Nazareth Golden Flyers.