OSWEGO, N.Y.— The Buffalo State women's basketball team used stifling defense and a balanced scoring effort against Oswego in its SUNYAC opener, as the Bengals slowly pulled away from the proceedings with a 78-64 victory Friday evening.
GAME BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 78, Oswego – 64
LOCATION: Max Ziel Gymnasium – Oswego, N.Y.
RECORDS: Buffalo State (4-2, 1-0 SUNYAC), Oswego (3-4, 0-2 SUNYAC)
INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE
- Four Bengals scored in double figures, led by Tashawni Cornfield's (Gowanda, NY/Putham) 22 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the field. She added 14 rebounds and five steals.
- Katie Villarini (Hamburg, NY/Hamburg) added 18 points, seven assists, and four rebounds.
- Brianna Smith (Oakfield, NY/Oakfield) added 16 points and seven rebounds, six offensive.
- Adiya Jones (Washington, DC/McKinley Technology) chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds.
- The Bengals shot 38.1 percent (32-of-84) from the field, outscoring the Lakers in the paint by a 42-16 margin.
- The Bengals also earned 13 steals, forcing Oswego to 23 turnovers on the defensive end.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- It was a back-and-forth start to the game, as the first quarter saw 12 lead changes.
- With Buffalo State holding a 10-8 lead in the opening quarter, Oswego scored five straight points to take a 13-10 lead.
- The Bengals stuck back with baskets by Smith and Villarini to take a one-point lead.
- After a jumper by Logan Nyemchek gave the Lakers a 15-14 lead, Smith and Villarini teamed up for a 7-0 Bengal run, as the visitors led 21-15 after one.
- The Bengals stretched their lead to double digits in the second quarter as Jones hit a pair of 3-pointers.
- Cornfield's jumper late in the period gave the Bengals a 39-30 lead at the half.
- Buffalo State continued to stretch its lead in the second half, as a Zavia Jaime (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) trey gave the Bengals a 19-point, 63-44 lead.
- The Bengals kept the pressure high in the final quarter, holding the Lakers to 1-for-10 shooting in the final quarter as they stretched their lead past 20.
FOR THE FOES
- Chastin Giles led Oswego with 21 points and five rebounds.
- Danielle Caivana added 14 points and six rebounds.
- Oswego shot 33.3 percent (22-of-66) from the field and just 8-for-33 (24.2 percent) from beyond the arc.
UP NEXT
The Bengals host their first SUNYAC contest on Saturday, as Geneseo comes to town in a 4 p.m. start.