CORTLAND, N.Y. - Alyssa Crosby (Brier Hill/Hammond) scored nine of her Cortland career-high 19 points in the fourth quarter as Cortland pulled away late to defeat visiting Fredonia, 77-69, in a SUNYAC women's basketball matchup.

Cortland snapped a three-game losing streak and is now 13-7 overall and 8-5 in the league. The Red Dragons opened up a three-game cushion on Plattsburgh (5-8) for the sixth and final SUNYAC playoff spot, and Cortland sits only a half game behind both Brockport (8-4) and Fredonia (9-5) in the standings.

Crosby made 5-of-8 shots from the field and all eight of her free throws. She also pulled down seven rebounds. Stephanie Rice (Duanesburg) made five of her eight 3-point attempts and finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Also for the Red Dragons, Cassidy Chapko (Valley Falls/Hoosic Valley) scored 12 points and added five rebounds and four assists, while Danielle Levine (Holbrook/Sachem North) ended with eight points, three assists, and career highs of 11 rebounds and four steals.

Alexis Cheatham led Fredonia (14-7 overall) with 22 points and four assists. She made six 3-pointers. Sabrina Macaulay finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals, Jenna Einink tallied 13 points and registered seven steals and eight rebounds, and Jacque Law contributed nine points and eight rebounds.

Cortland shot 47 percent from the floor, including 41 percent (10-of-24) from 3-point range, and the Red Dragons made 13-of-15 free throws (87 percent). Cortland held Fredonia to 33 percent shooting from the floor overall and 32 percent (8-of-25) from the arc.

Cortland led 35-30 at halftime, but the Blue Devils closed to within 52-50 after three quarters and scored the first four points of the fourth to take the lead. The teams were tied four times after that point, the last at 67-67 on a Chapko layup with 2:37 left.

Fredonia missed a 3-pointer on its next possession and Levine hit a layup with 2:06 remaining to put Cortland ahead for good. Crosby helped the Red Dragons extend the lead with two free throws at the 1:14 mark and two more with 34 seconds left. Following a Fredonia bucket, Taylor Miller (Freeport) sank two foul shots with 23 seconds left. Chapko finished the scoring with two charity tosses with 10 seconds on the clock.

Cortland will travel to Oneonta on Tuesday for a 5:30 p.m. league contest.