ONEONTA, N.Y.— A late rally by the Buffalo State women's basketball team fell short in the final minute, as Oneonta converted from the line to slide past the Bengals by a 71-67 margin in SUNYAC action Friday evening.
 
GAME BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Oneonta –71, Buffalo State – 67
LOCATION:  Dewar Arena – Oneonta, N.Y.
RECORDS:  Buffalo State (5-6, 2-3 SUNYAC), Oneonta (8-6, 5-2)
 
INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• Katie Villarini (Hamburg, NY/Hamburg) led the Bengals with a career-high 36 points, her third 30-point outing of the season.
• Adiya Jones (Washington, DC/McKinley Technology) added nine points, nine rebounds, and four assists.
• The Bengals shot 36.4 percent (24-of-66) from the field, and out-rebounded the Red Dragons by a 43-34 margin.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Down 16-12 near the tail end of the first quarter, the Bengals scored the final six points to take an 18-16 lead, capped by a Shanique Simms (Rochester, NY/East) layup.
• 'State stretched its lead to five, beginning the second quarter with a Villarini 3-point play.
• With the Bengals holding a 25-24 lead, Oneonta scored six consecutive points, as a Molly Coyne jumper gave the visitors a 30-25 lead at the 1:31 mark.
• Simms once again ended the period for Buffalo State with a layup, as the Bengals trailed by three at halftime.
• Oneonta pulled ahead in the third quarter, outscoring the Bengals 26-19, leading by as many as nine points in the period.
• Down nine with just over two minutes to go in the contest, the Bengals staged one final rally.
• Villarini started the rally with a jumper and a pair of Jadyn Jones (Gowanda, NY/Lake Shore) free throws reduced the deficit to 65-60 with 1:16 to go.
• After an Oneonta turnover, Villarini danced through traffic and tried to go for the scoop layup, but her attempt was blocked by Jenna Harclerode. Brianna Smith (Oakfield, NY/Oakfield) grabbed the rebound and found Adiya Jones under the basket, as the visitors trailed by three.
• Oneonta kept Buffalo State at bay with four made free throws, but Villarini responded with five points, including a 3-pointer with five seconds left in the contest as the Bengals trailed 69-67.
• Nadia Brown put the game away for Oneonta as she hit a pair of free throws with two seconds left for the 71-67 final.

FOR THE FOES

• Olivia Dobrovosky led Oneonta with 22 points and eight rebounds, making 9-of-13 shots from the field.
• Harclerode and Brown each chipped in 11 points.
• The Red Dragons shot 42.4 percent (25-of-59) from the field and made 17-of-18 shots from the charity stripe.

 
UP NEXT
The Bengals will resume action with a rare Monday night contest, as Potsdam comes to the Buffalo State Sports Arena for a SUNYAC matchup beginning at 5:30 p.m.