BUFFALO, NY – Fresh off a longer-than-expected holiday break, the Buffalo State women's basketball team is eager to return to the court, traveling to New Paltz and Oneonta this Thursday and Friday, respectively. Both games will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Live Links
New Paltz –
LIVE STATS VIDEO
Oneonta –
LIVE STATS VIDEO
Eyes on the Bengals
-Buffalo State enters 2022 with a 5-4 record and a 2-1 mark in SUNYAC contests, good for third place in the league. The Bengals' last contest was a little over a month ago, on Dec. 11, 2021 against then-No. 25 St. John Fisher College. The Bengals held a fourth-quarter lead before the Cardinals pulled away late to foil Buffalo State's upset bid.
-The Bengals have been a great rebounding squad so far, ranking fifth among all NCAA Division III squads with 35.2 defensive rebounds per game, and 18th with 48.6 total rebounds per game. The team is also 32nd in 3-point field goal defense (22.3 percent). Offensively, the Bengals are second in the league in scoring by a narrow margin, averaging 68.6 points per game.
-Senior
Katie Villarini (Hamburg, NY/Hamburg) leads the team with 23.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. Among NCAA leaders, the senior guard is fifth in scoring average, ninth in assists, and sixth in free throws made (64).
-Sophomore
Tashawni Cornfield (Gowanda, NY/Putham) is enjoying a solid first season as a Bengal, as she leads the team in rebounds (8.7 rpg.), steals (3.0 spg.), blocked shots (four). She's second in scoring (14.9 ppg.) and 3-point baskets made (10).
-Sophomore
Brianna Smith (Oakfield, NY/Oakfield) has been solid during league play so far. The forward averages 14.3 points per game in the three league contests, and has scored in double figures in four of the last five contests.
-Freshman
Adiya Jones (Washington, DC/McKinley Technology) has been important on the boards in her first season. The rookie has grabbed eight or more boards in four contests this season, including a career-best 14 boards against Pitt-Bradford on Nov. 17. She averages 6.9 rebounds to go along with 6.0 points per game.
Breaking Down the Hawks
-New Paltz enters the late-week contest with a 7-3 overall record and a 3-1 mark in conference contests. The Hawks, two-time defending SUNYAC Champions, are 2-0 at home and are coming off a 60-55 victory at Brockport last Saturday.
-New Paltz is the league's best team from beyond the arc, hitting a conference-best 8.3 threes a game at a .302 clip. They also pull down offensive boards at a league-best rate of 15.7 caroms per game.
-Individually, sophomore Brianna Fitzgerald leads the team with 14.7 points per game, bringing in 6.0 rebounds per game.
-Junior Maddie Gillis is second in scoring at 13.2 points per game, bringing in a team-leading 6.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
The History
Buffalo State holds a slim 27-24 advantage all-time over New Paltz, and the Bengals will be looking for revenge after the Hawks advanced to the SUNYAC Championship game after their last meeting on Feb. 20, 2020. Buffalo State will be looking for its first victory over New Paltz since the 2015 season.
Breaking Down the Red Dragons
-Oneonta, 6-6 overall and 3-2 in conference action so far this season, will host Fredonia Thursday evening before the Bengals come to town on Friday. Oneonta has won four of the last five games, including a 55-52 victory over Geneseo last Saturday.
-As a team, Oneonta averages 59.4 points per game on offense, and are the best shot-blocking team on the other end with 3.7 blocks per game.
-Individually, sophomore Molly Stephens leads the team with 12.3 points per game, adding 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.
-Junior Olivia Dobrovosky is next with 10.3 points per game and she leads the team in rebounds (6.1 rpg.), assists (3.7 apg.), and steals (2.2 spg.).
The History
Oneonta holds a 34-19 advantage over Buffalo State all-time, but the Bengals have won three of the last four games. In the teams' last matchup in the SUNYAC Quarterfinal on Feb. 25, 2020, the Bengals erased a halftime deficit to earn the 61-50 victory.
