BUFFALO, N.Y. – Senior Katie Villarini (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg) of the Buffalo State women's basketball team and freshman Maggie Parobek (Amherst, N.Y./Amherst) of the Buffalo State women's swimming and diving team are named Bengal Athletes of the Week on Monday. The award honors the best two student-athletes in the week ending on Sunday, Nov. 14.
 
Villarini, a health and wellness major, averaged 24.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 4.5 steals as the Bengals opened the season against Rochester and Hilbert. The senior guard scored 25 points in the season opener at Rochester, then filled the stat sheet with a 23-point, 10 rebound double-double, adding seven steals and five assists. The 48 points scored last week brings her to 980 career points, as she looks to become the 16th member of the Buffalo State 1,000-point club this week.
 
The Bengals (1-1) opened the season with a 91-55 loss at Rochester on Tuesday, but rallied to defeat Hilbert 73-56 in the home opener on Saturday. The Bengals look forward to a busy upcoming week, as they host Pitt-Bradford on Wednesday at 6 p.m., before hosting the Betty Abgott Invitational against Bryant and Stratton – Buffalo on Thursday and D'Youville on Saturday.
 
Parobek, a graphic design major, won three individual events in Buffalo State's home meet vs. Cortland. The rookie touched first in the 50-yard breaststroke (33.70), 200-yard breaststroke (2:43.00), and the 200-yard IM (2:23.52). She was also part of a 200-yard medley relay quartet that won the event in 1:58.60.
 
The Bengals (0-6) battled against Cortland at home Saturday, falling by a narrow 128-119 decision. The Bengals will take a few weeks off before returning to the pool to compete in the Cortland Invitational Dec. 3-4.
 
Kudos to: Nikita Kozyrev, men's hockey; Cody Phillips, football; Tashawni Cornfield, women's basketball.