BUFFALO, NY – Brittnee Perry (Buffalo, NY/Hutch Tech) recorded her third double-double of the season, pulling down a career-high 16 rebounds and scoring 15 points to help lead Buffalo State (12-11, 9-7 SUNYAC) past Fredonia (9-13, 6-10 SUNYAC) 78-64 on Friday evening at Sports Arena, giving the Bengals a spot in the SUNYAC playoffs.
Friday's game was also senior night and the Bengals honored their three seniors, Hillary Kollar (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown), Olivia Luciani (Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse Minoa) and Ashley Wallace (Lockport, NY/Starpoint).
Wallace led the way offensively for the Bengals with 20 points and 10 boards for her 15th career double-double. Luciani hit three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points, while Kollar tallied nine rebounds and eight points.
Fredonia jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first minute of play. The Blue Devils maintained control of the lead until a layup from Niasha Houpe (Rochester, NY/William Floyd) put Buffalo State up 15-14 at 13:03. The game remained close, but the Bengals mounted a 13-3 run and went up by 11, 32-21, with just under seven minutes to play. A jumper from Wallace at 1:35 gave Buffalo State a 16 point lead, its largest of the game. A last second launch from just behind the arc from the Blue Devils cut the Bengals lead down to 11 heading into halftime.
In the second half, the Blue Devils slowly chipped away at the Bengals lead. A fastbreak layup from Fredonia at 10:56 tied the game up at 50. The Blue Devils took over the lead, 53-52, at 8:54, but Luciani quickly responded with a jumper to put Buffalo State back on top, 54-53. The Bengals never trailed again, pushing their lead back up to 11 with less than two minutes in the game. In the closing minute, Buffalo State kept control of the ball and held the Blue Devils from scoring.
The Bengals finished the game shooting 36.3 percent from the floor, 31.3 percent from long range and 53.8 percent from the free throw line. Buffalo State forced 18 turnovers and held a 63-42 rebounding advantage.
With the victory, the Bengals earn a point in the season long all-sports "Battle by the Lake" competition between Buffalo State and Fredonia.
Buffalo State wore pink uniforms as part of the WBCA Play 4 Kay initiative to support breast cancer research and awareness, named for former NC State coach Kay Yow. Bengals assistant coach Max Payne purchased the uniforms for the team in memory of his late wife Janet who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2007.
The Bengals return to action at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at New Paltz for the final weekend of SUNYAC play.