BUFFALO, NY—Buffalo State's (15-2/8-2) zone gave visiting New Paltz (9-8/7-3) fits in the second have as the Bengals surrendered just 15 points in the final 20 minutes to pull away for a 62-51 in a SUNYAC game this evening at the Sports Arena.

Bianca Smiley (Amherst/Sweet Home) paced Buffalo State with her seventh double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds.  Divine Sebuharara (Vestal/Vestal) and Barb Kiliszek (Depew/Lancaster) netted 12 points each, and Staci McElroy (Saratoga Springs/Saratoga Springs) had 10 points and eight rebounds.

Pippa Mansdorf (Hastings-on-the-Hudson/Hastings) led New Paltz with 10 points off the bench on 4 of 5 shooting.  Kaitlin Clifford (Staten Island/Curtis) chipped in nine points.

Buffalo State jumped out to a 24-14 lead midway through the opening period, but the Hawks erased the advantage with a 14-3 run and were ahead 36-31 at the intermission.  New Paltz pushed its lead to seven just over five minutes into the second frame, but it was the Bengals turn to rally.  Buffalo State took the lead with a 12-2 run and then used a 12-0 run a little later to pull away.

After shooting 48-percent in the first half, New Paltz connected on just 26-percent of its shots in the second period.  Buffalo State outrebounded New Paltz, 45-33, while each team committed 25 turnovers.

Buffalo State will host first-place Oneonta tomorrow at 2 p.m.