(GAME 1 BOX SCORE)
(GAME 2 BOX SCORE)

BUFFALO, NY—Buffalo State (2-0) and Grove City (1-1) each posted victories to open the Betty Abgott Invitational this evening at the Buffalo State Sports Arena. Grove City topped Sage (0-2), 63-52 in the opener, before the host Bengals cruised past Hilbert (0-1), 76-40.

Christine Slater (Aliquippa, PA/Center) led Grove City in the early game with 26 points and added nine rebounds. Megan Gebrosky (Cranberry Twp., PA/Seneca Valley) added 15 points and five assists, and Leah Gibson (N. Canton, OH/Hoover) had 13 points and seven boards. Chelsea Martin (Davenport, NY/Jefferson Central) led Sage with 14 points and seven boards. Kara Hackett (Peru, NY/Peru) chipped in 13 points, and Jessica Byerwalters (Coeymans Hollow, NY/RCS) scored 12. Grove City overcame an early 8-2 deficit to carry a 38-23 lead into the intermission. Sage battled back, opening the second half with a 14-0 run and took a one-point lead at 52-51 with under five minutes to play. The Wolverines quickly responded, however, and closed the game on a 12-1 run to claim the 63-52 victory.

Buffalo State had scoring from 14 of 15 players in the lineup, led by Barb Kiliszek (Depew, NY/Lancaster) who had 10 points, six assists and four steals. Alecia Bowman (Albany/Guilderland) also scored 10 points to go with seven boards, and Dee Layne (Brooklyn, NY/E. NY Family) had seven points and eight rebounds. Magan Campbell (Buffalo, NY/Bennett) led the Hawks with 14 points. Julie Bossard (Arkport, NY/Canisteo-Greenwood) chipped in six points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. Buffalo State jumped out of the gates, claiming a 40-16 lead at halftime, and never looked back en route to the 36-point win.

The tournament will conclude tomorrow with the consolation game between Sage and Hilbert at noon, followed by the championship at 2 p.m. between host Buffalo State and Grove City.