Buffalo State (19-6/14-4) placed second in the SUNYAC regular-season standings and has earned a bye into the semifinals this Friday at 6 p.m. against No. 3 Geneseo. Top-seeded Plattsburgh will host the "final four" on Friday and Saturday.

Geneseo advanced to the semifinals after defeating No. 6 Fredonia, 55-52, in Tuesday's quarterfinal contest.

Buffalo State held the top spot in the conference for much of the season, opening league play with a 12-1 record, but went 2-3 over the final five conference games.

The Bengals boast a high-scoring offense that averages more than 70 points-per-game, led by senior guard Staci McElroy (Saratoga Springs/Saratoga Springs) who is averaging 14.4 points, and ranks second in school history with 1,402 career points. Senior Bianca Smiley (Amherst/Sweet Home) added 11.6 points and 8.0 rebounds-per game and also has more than 1,000 career points in just three seasons.

Junior Ashley Wallace (Lockport/Starpoint) is the team's best defender and adds scoring depth, averaging 10.5 points and 7.3 rebounds. Junior Olivia Luciani (Syracuse/E. Syracuse-Minoa) is also pouring in 10.0 points-per-game.

Buffalo State and Geneseo split the season series with each team winning on the other's home court. The Bengals won in Geneseo on Jan. 14, 77-64, but the Knights earned a 75-45 win in Buffalo on Feb. 15.

Buffalo State is making its fourth playoff appearance in five years, and second trip to the semifinals in three seasons. The Bengals advanced to the title game in 2012, but have not won a SUNYAC title since 2002.

The winner of Friday's game will face the winner of No. 1 Plattsburgh/No. 5 Cortland in the championship game on Saturday at 4 p.m.