(BOX SCORE)

CORTLAND, NY— Staci McElroy (Saratoga Springs/Saratoga Springs) poured in 26 points and Buffalo State (15-10) led by two with less than three minutes remaining, but host Cortland (19-6) pulled away down the stretch to post a 66-57 win in a SUNYAC Quarterfinal game tonight at Corey Gym.

McElroy added eight rebounds and five steals to pace the Bengals. Sarah Thompson (Delmar/Bethlehem) added 12 points, Dee Layne (Brooklyn/E. NY Family Academy) had nine points and 13 rebounds, and Barb Kiliszek (Depew/Lancaster) had six points and five steals.

Buffalo State got off to a slow start, trailing by as many as 16 in the first half, and was down 33-27 at the break. The Bengals opened the second half with an 8-2 run to pull even and took their first lead of the game at 41-39 with 13 minutes remaining. The Bengals lead grew to six, and they still led 55-53, until Cortland hit a 3-pointer with 2:28 remaining to take the lead for good. The Red Dragons scored 13 of the game's final 15 points, including seven from the free-throw line.

Cortland shot 51-percent from the field, compared to 32-percent for the Bengals. Buffalo State hit just 2 of 19 3-point attempts. The Bengals outrebounded Cortland, 47-34.

Buffalo State's 15 wins on the season marked the most for the team since winning 18 during the 2002-03.