NEW PALTZ, N.Y.—Top-seeded host New Paltz used stifling defense to limit No. 4 Buffalo State to a season-low 49 points en route to a 78-49 victory in tonight's second SUNYAC semifinal.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE:  New Paltz – 78, Buffalo State – 49
LOCATION: Hawk Center – New Paltz, NY
RECORDS: New Paltz (23-3), Buffalo State (16-11)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Katie Villarini (Hamburg/Hamburg) led the Bengals with 20 points, including hitting 5 of 8 from 3-point range.
• Liv LeBaron (Corning/Corning East) was limited to just nine points to go with a game-high 11 rebounds.  The only other time this season she did not score in double figures was also against New Paltz when she also scored nine points.
• Senior Kaelee Lynch (Atwater, CA/Buhach Colony) was the next highest scorer, netting seven points in her final game as a Bengal.
• New Paltz held Buffalo State to just 5 of 27 shooting, including 1 of 12 from 3-point range, in the first half and mounted an early 20-0 run before taking a 27-13 lead into halftime.
• Buffalo State was never able to close the gap to less than 14 in the second half as the Hawks pulled away for the victory.
• New Paltz controlled the paint, outscoring the Bengals 38-14 inside and also had a 21-6 scoring advantage off turnovers.  Buffalo State finished with 24 turnovers, compared to 13 by the Hawks.

 
FOR THE FOES

• Eleven different New Paltz players scored, led by 18 points from Maddie Van Pelt.
• Marion Dietz was the only other Hawks' player in double figures with 14 points.

 
UP NEXT
Buffalo State ends its season 16-11.  New Paltz advance to host the championship game tomorrow at 4 p.m. against No. 2 Cortland.