BUFFALO, N.Y.— With the upcoming SUNYAC Tournament in full focus, the Buffalo State women's basketball team pulled away in the fourth quarter, cruising to a critical 65-58 home victory over league-leading Cortland Tuesday evening. With the win, the Bengals are guaranteed a top four-seed heading into the SUNAC Tournament.

GAME BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 65, Cortland – 58
LOCATION:  Buffalo State Sports Arena – Buffalo, N.Y.
RECORDS:  Buffalo State (14-8, 11-5 SUNYAC), Cortland (18-4, 14-2 SUNYAC)
 
INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• Katie Villarini (Hamburg, NY/Hamburg) tallied her eighth double-double of the season, scoring 20 points and adding 13 rebounds. She's now the sixth player in school history to score 500+ points in a season, ending the evening with 511 points this year.
• Tashawni Cornfield (Gowanda, NY/Putham) also had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, adding two assists and two steals.
• Brianna Smith (Oakfield, NY/Oakfield) was the third player for the Bengals in double figures in scoring with 10 points.
• The Bengals kept the high-flying Red Dragons in check, holding them to 28.2 percent (22-of-78) from the field and 6-of-33 from beyond the arc.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Cortland led for the entire first half, as both defenses controlled the proceedings.
• Buffalo State was able to stay with the Red Dragons, as a Grace Carey (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island) layup brought the Bengals deficit to one (26-25) heading into halftime.
• Smith nailed a three pointer early in the third to give the Bengals their first lead of the game at the 9:22 mark (29-26).
• The Bengals stretched their lead thanks to a 6-0 run late, as they led 42-35 with 1:10 to go in the period.
• Cortland bookended the third and fourth quarters with a 9-0 run, as they took a 44-42 lead early in the final quarter.
• Down one (47-46), the Bengals made their move, as a Villarini jumper sparked a 7-0 run.
• A steal and layup by Taylor James (Buffalo, NY/Frederik Law Olmstead) capped the run, as they led 53-47.
• Cortland wasn't done, hanging around as a Maggie Malone layup brought the deficit to five, at 57-52 with 2:01 to go.
• Heaven Rollek (Springville, NY/Springville-Griffith) grabbed an offensive rebound on the next possession and fed it to Villarini at the top of the key, as she got by the defender and hit a clutch floater with the defender draped all over, converting the and-one basket.
• Rollek then hit two free throws at the line with 51 seconds left, giving the Bengals an insurmountable double-digit lead (62-52).

 
FOR THE FOES

• Malone led all Cortland scorers with 16 points while adding three blocks.
• Sarah Tully had a double-double as well with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
• Corinne Miedreich also added 12 points and almost had a double-double with eight rebounds. 

NOTABLES

• Villarini, became the sixth player in Buffalo State history to score over 500 points. She also recorded her eighth double-double of the season. Cornfield also recorded her fifth double- double on the season.

 
UP NEXT
The Bengals will renew acquaintances with the Red Dragons this Friday, traveling to Cortland in a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.