BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo State women's basketball dropped a nail-bitter at home, 46-49, against the Alfred University Saxons.

GAME BASICS

FINAL SCORE: Alfred University – 49, Buffalo State – 46
LOCATION: Sports Arena – Buffalo, NY
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 1-4 (0-0 SUNYAC), Alfred University: 5-1 (0-0 Empire 8)

INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• Adiya Jones (Washington, D.C./ McKinley Technology) led the Bengals in scoring with 14 points, on a 6-12 performance from the floor, and 2-3 from the three-point arc. Maddy Stearns (Clarence, NY/ Clarence) and Mya Brown (Buffalo, NY/Frontier) backed her up scoring eight points apiece.
• Jones also led the Bengals with 11 rebounds, with Ashley Tucker (Buffalo, NY/ Kenmore West) and Chloe Hanson (Skaneateles, NY/ Moravia) each grabbing nine boards.
• As a team, the Bengals shot 30.3% from the floor, while going 33.3% from the free-throw line.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Entering this matchup, the Bengals looked to rebound from the holiday-break and finish off the first half of the season in a winning manner. As the game began, both teams struggled to gain their feet, with the first basket coming in the seventh minute of play by the Bengals. As both teams struggled pull away with a lead throughout the first, the Bengals played tough defense on the Saxons and were able to gain a two-point lead as the first quarter buzzer rang. The Bengals shot 33.3% from the floor in the first quarter.  
• The second quarter saw both teams, once again, struggle to pick up momentum as only six baskets were made from the floor. As the Saxons and the Bengals turned this matchup into a defensive battle, the Saxons were able to slightly pull ahead from the Bengals, going up by two heading into halftime. The Bengals shot 27.3% from the floor in the quarter.
• As the third quarter began, both teams finally found their offensive rhythm, trading baskets throughout the quarter. As the Saxons stormed out to a nine-point lead, the Bengals went on a seven-point run and trailed by two-points with the fourth quarter to be a deciding factor. The Bengals shot 37.5% from the floor in the quarter.
• As fourth quarter play began, the trend of trading baskets was again a major theme, with each team looking to deliver the "knockout blow." Going up by nine-points, the Saxons launched into cruise control…but the Bengals never backed down, going on a mini-run to get this game into one possession. With five-seconds left to play and the Bengals with the ball, a 'Hail-Mary' three-point attempt just missed, giving the Saxons the win over the Bengals. The Bengals shot 25% from the floor in the quarter.

FOR THE FOES

• Jessica Beehler led the Saxons with 14 points.
• Natalee Collins led the Saxons with nine rebounds, while Grace Rittenhouse, Behler and Samantha Fischer each chipped in with two-assists.

UP NEXT
The Bengals will hit the road this weekend, traveling to SUNY Oneonta to take on the Red Dragons on Friday at 5:30 P.M.