BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo State women's basketball won a tough fought battle at home, 64-60, against the New Paltz Hawks.

GAME BASICS

FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 64, New Paltz – 60
LOCATION: Sports Arena – Buffalo, NY
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 5-13 (2-9 SUNYAC), New Paltz: 11-8 (10-2 SUNYAC)

INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• Ashley Tucker (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore West) led the Bengals in scoring, with a huge 17-point performance, shooting 5-10 from the field and going 7-9 from the free-throw line. Maddy Stearns (Clarence, NY/Clarence) also chimed in with a 14-point performance, that included going 2-3 from the three-point arc.
• Adiya Jones (Washington, D.C./ McKinley Technology) led the Bengals with rebounds, pulling down 12 boards in today's game.
• As a team, the Bengals shot 50.0% from the floor, while shooting 62.1% from the free-throw line.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Entering this matchup, the Bengals looked to rid themselves of their seven-game losing streak and begin an end of season push towards the SUNYAC playoffs. As the first quarter began, the Bengals came out aggressive as they limited the Hawks chances around the net and forced them to three-point attempts. Offensively, the Bengals attacked the pain of the Hawks, creating second chances at the rim as much as they could. The formula was successful as the Bengals entered the second quarter leading by four-points over the Hawks.
• The second quarter would see the Bengals play their most complete basketball of the season, holding the Hawks to only five points in the quarter. Backing their stingy defense, the Bengals would take advantage of the Hawks mistakes leading to halftime lead of 13-points over the Hawks.
• In the third quarter, the Hawks would make play a bit more competitive, as they chipped at the Bengals lead, bringing the game within single digits late into the third quarter. Credit to the Bengals players and coaching staff for not giving away their lead so easily, with a late 'and-one' from Tucker would bring the Bengals closer to a victory, heading into the fourth quarter up 13-points on the Hawks.
• In the fourth quarter, things would get a bit tense for the Bengals, as the Hawks would make a play to steal this game from the Bengals hands. Leading by double-digits in the quarter, the Hawks would go on a 9-0 run, bringing this game within eight points, with minutes left to play. Strong defense and a couple free throws later would find the Hawks within two-possessions, with only two minutes left to play. But, once again, credit to the Bengals for digging dip as they didn't let the moment get too big and picked up a big win over the New Paltz Hawks.

FOR THE FOES

• Julia Sabatino led the Hawks with 17-points today.
• Sabatino and Abby Korzekwinski led the Hawks in rebounds, pulling down six rebounds each.

UP NEXT
The Bengals will be looking to pick up back-to-back wins, as they get some overnight rest before returning to action tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 P.M., as they host the SUNY Oneonta Red Dragons.