Box Score 1 CONCORDIA/HOUGHTON BOX SCORE

BUFFALO, NY—Buffalo State (1-0) raced past Penn State Harrisburg (0-1), 75-52, and Concordia-Moorhead (1-0) blasted Houghton (0-1), 88-42, to open the Betty Abgott Invitational tonight at the Buffalo State Sports Arena.

Olivia Luciani (Syracuse/E. Syracuse Minoa) led Buffalo State with a game-high 17 points. Senior Staci McElroy (Saratoga Springs/Saratoga Springs) had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Ashley Wallace (Lockport/Starpoint) also had a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards. Kala Crawford (Middle Falls/Saratoga Springs) added a career-best eight assists.

Mercedes Copeland (Reading, Pa./Reading) was Penn State's only player scoring in double-figures, netting13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

The Bengals cruised in the opener, never trailing after the opening minute of the game. Buffalo State led 37-24 at the intermission and the Lions did not come closer than 11 in the second half. Buffalo State shot 42-percent for the game, compared to 30-percent shooting by Penn State.

In the late game, Alley Fischer (Fargo, ND/Fargo South) led a balanced Concordia attack with 15 points. Kelsey Walloch (Lesterville, SD/Menno) had 12 points and six boards off the bench, while Alexandra Lippert (Willmar, MN/Willmar) and Hannah Jeske (Bismarck, ND/Bismarck Centrury) netted 11 and 10 points respectively.

Kristen Moose (Swain/Canaseraga) led the Highlanders with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Hannah Fink (Coudersport, PA/Coudersport) added nine points and eight boards.

The Cobbers shot the lights out in the first half, hitting 56-percent from the field, and posting a 52-18 lead by the break. Concordia cruised to the win in the second half, despite shooting just 34-percent over the final 20 minutes. The Cobbers finished with just seven turnovers, compared to 22 by Houghton.

Buffalo State and Concordia-Moorhead will square off in tomorrow's championship game at 2 p.m. Penn State-Harrisburg and Houghton will meet in the consolation game at noon.