FREDONIA, N.Y.— Liv LeBaron (Corning/Corning East) matched career-highs with 37 points and 13 rebounds as Buffalo State trimmed a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit down to two, using a 17-6 run, but could not complete the comeback as Fredonia claimed an 80-76 victory to open SUNYAC play.

THE BASICS

FINAL SCORE: Fredonia – 80, Buffalo State – 76   

LOCATION: Dods Hall – Fredonia, N.Y.

RECORDS: Fredonia (2-3, 1-0 SUNYAC), Buffalo State (5-2, 0-1 SUNYAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• LeBaron finished 12 of 25 from the floor and 9-10 from the free-throw line.
• Princella McCullough (Rochester/Bishop Kearney) chipped in 16 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
• Katie Villarini (Hamburg/Hamburg) added 10 points while Jenna Faulkner (Lockport/Starpoint) tallied five points, eight rebounds and an assist.
• Buffalo State raced out to an early 8-0 lead but could not overcome four early turnovers as Fredonia took a 22-20 lead after 10 minutes of action.
• The Bengals reclaimed a 29-27 lead on a pair of LeBaron free throws used the momentum to outscore the Blue Devils 21-18 in the second stanza to claim a 41-40 lead at halftime.
• Fredonia closed the third period on a 19-7 run to take a 64-56 lead at the final intermission.
• After the Blue Devils took a 72-59 lead with 5:55 left in the contest, Buffalo State responded with a 17-6 run fueled by 12 points from LeBaron and five points combined from Grace Licata (Williamsville/Williamsville South) and Faulkner to cut the lead to 78-76.
• Fredonia tallied a pair of free throws in the final 14 seconds of the contest to earn the 80-76 victory.
• Buffalo State shot 37 percent from the floor while holding a 13-11 advantage in second chance points.
• The Blue Devils forced 21 Bengal turnovers en route to a 23-9 advantage in points off turnovers.

FOR THE FOES

• Einink led the Blue Devils with 20 points and finished 5 of 11 from the 3-point line.
• Rae White added 16 points and five steals, while Anna Chiacchia chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds.

NOTEWORTHY

• With the victory, Fredonia earns a point in the season-long "Battle by the Lake" competition between the two schools.

UP NEXT                 

Buffalo State will return to the Sports Arena next Friday as it hosts Oswego in another SUNYAC contest starting at 5:30 p.m.