Big fourth quarter propels Bengals past Bears

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The first quarter started with a layup from freshman guard Drew Dufrane (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) followed by six straight points from McCullough. Smith and senior guard Shyasha Spencer (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) traded threes and the see-saw play continued. Buffalo State closed out the quarter with an 8-1 run and the six-point lead.

The next 10 minutes were slow on both sides of the ball with the Bears leading the Bengals 11-9, but Buffalo State kept a four-point lead to take into halftime. Senior captain Meghan Driscoll (Troy, N.Y./Troy) totaled five points with another four from Smith, while McCullough scored five of Buffalo State's nine.

The low scoring followed into the second half with the Bengals leading 13-9 over the 10 minutes of play. Junior forward Mariah Rosario (Flushing, N.Y./Robert F. Kennedy) and junior captain Caleh McLean (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) each tallied four points. Sophomore forward Victoria Shopovick (White Plains, N.Y./Maria Regina) topped Potsdam with four points. Buffalo State held the eight-point lead.

Sophomore guard Grace Licata (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South) hit from behind the arch to ignite an 8-3 run to start the fourth. The teams went basket-for-basket over the next four minutes of play before the Bengals started another 7-0 run. Driscoll answered with a 3-point play, but another four free throws from Buffalo State ended the 66-49 win for the Bengals.

Driscoll finished with 12 points and fellow senior captain Patti Dorgler (Floral Park, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) recorded eight points and lead the Bears with eight boards. Junior forward Emily Drake (Athens, N.Y./Coxsackie-Athens) rounded out the leaders with six points and six rebounds.

Rosario fell short of a double-double with 13 points and nine boards. Spencer and Licata each finished with nine points for the Bengals.

Potsdam is back in action tomorrow when they take on SUNY Fredonia at 4 p.m.