BUFFALO, N.Y.—Brooklyn erased a 14-point second-half deficit to surge past host Buffalo State for a 57-52 victory today to claim the Betty Abgott Invitational.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE:  Brooklyn – 57 , Buffalo State – 52
LOCATION: Sports Arena - Buffalo, N.Y.
RECORDS: Brooklyn (3-0), Buffalo State (1-2)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Liv LeBaron (Horseheads/Corning Painted Post) led Buffalo State with 16 points, while Mariah Rosario (Flushing/RFK) chipped in 11 points and nine rebounds.
• Grace Licata (Williamsville/Williamsville South) and Katie Villarini (Hamburg/Hamburg) finished with six points apiece.
• Buffalo State jumped out to 12-4 lead to open the game.
• The Bulldogs regrouped to cut the lead to two points with 5:30 left in second quarter, but the Bengals used a 5-0 run late to take a 29-22 lead at halftime.
• Buffalo State carried the momentum into the second half, using an early 9-0 run to extend its lead to 14 midway through the third quarter.
• The Bulldogs answered with a 13-2 run later in the frame and then finally took their first lead of the game since 2-0 with 8:11 remaining in regulation. 
• After being deadlocked at 48-48, Brooklyn took the lead for good with 2:45 remaining and hit 5 of 6 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

 
FOR THE FOES

• Karen Mak led the Bulldogs with 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
• Chanel Jemmott added 11 points and seven rebounds.

 
THE EARLY GAME

• Villa Maria outscored Pitt-Greensburg 11-6 in overtime to claim second place in the Betty Abgott Invitational with a 73-68 win in today's first game.
• Shaquana Owens led the Vikings with 26 points and 19 rebounds.
• Kelsey Oddis led the Bobcats with 32 points and 19 rebounds.

 
NOTEWORTHY

• Betty Abgott Invitational Champion: Brooklyn College Bulldogs
• MVP: Karen Mak (Brooklyn); ALL-TOURNEY: Liv LeBaron (Buffalo State), Shaquana Owens (Villa Maria), and Kelsey Oddis (Pitt-Greensburg).

 
UP NEXT
Buffalo State will visit Houghton for a non-conference contest on Tuesday at 8 p.m.