(BOX SCORE - GAME #1)
(BOX SCORE - GAME #2)
BUFFALO, NY—Albany College of Pharmacy and Medaille each posted wins to tip-off the Buffalo State Betty Abgott Classic tonight at the Sports Arena. Albany Pharmacy (1-0) downed Buffalo State (0-2), 44-43, in the opener, and Medaille (3-0) cruised past Keuka (0-1), 81-58.
Kelly VanValkenburgh's (Hunter, NY) jumper with nine seconds remaining gave Albany Pharmacy a one-point win in the opener. VanValkenburgh finished with 13 points and four assists. Amber Batzold (E. Greenbush, NY) netted a game-high 18 points, and Pam Leonardi (New Milford, NY) had 13 rebounds, four steals and four points for the Panthers. Dee Layne (Brooklyn/E. Family Acad.) had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds for Buffalo State. Shareese Hamer (Erie, PA/Strong Vincent) added four points and 14 rebounds. Albany led by as many as 11 in the second half, but Buffalo State rallied to take the lead down the stretch, only to see it disappear with VanValkenburgh's late jumper.
Kacie Mills (Buffalo/Kenmore East) led Medaille in the nightcap with 26 points and six assists. Carissa Ferrucci (Hamburg/Immaculata) and Amanda Sahhar (Orchard Park/Orchard Park) added 16 points apiece, and Lindsey Bergman (Hamburg/Holy Angels) chipped in 11. Melissa Thurston (Batavia/Batavia) paced Keuka with 16 points, and Brittany Schrock (Elmira Heights/Thomas Edison) had 12. Keuka led by seven late in the first half. The Mavericks used an 11-0 run to close the opening 20 minutes with a 32-27 advantage, before pulling away in the second half.
Medaille will play Albany Pharmacy tomorrow at 1 p.m., and Buffalo State will host Keuka at 3 p.m.
