ROCHESTER, N.Y.—
Liv LeBaron (Corning/Corning East) and
Katie Villarini (Hamburg/Hamburg) combined for 25 points and 13 rebounds, but it was not enough as host Nazareth outscored the visiting Bengals 16-6 in the third quarter en route to a 61-49 victory to clinch the Mike Daley Invitational Tournament this afternoon.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Nazareth – 61, Buffalo State – 49
LOCATION: Kidera Gymnasium (Nazareth College) – Rochester, N.Y.
RECORDS: Nazareth (3-0), Buffalo State (1-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- LeBaron led the Bengals with 13 points to go along with six rebounds and two assists.
- Villarini chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds, while Lexi Emmi (Liverpool/Liverpool) added nine points and four rebounds, and was named to the All-Tournament team.
- Kendall Mills (Buffalo/Kenmore East) scored eight points and Tori Hackett (Canandaigua/Canandaigua Academy) matched a career-high with seven rebounds.
- Nazareth stormed out of the gates by scoring the first eight points to take an early lead, but the Bengals responded with an old-fashion three-point play by Villarini to cut the deficit to 9-5 after the first 10 minutes of action.
- Buffalo State continued their momentum in the opening minutes of the second frame and used a pair of free-throws by LeBaron to take its first lead, 10-9, at the 8:29 mark.
- The Golden Flyers reclaimed the lead on the next play and held it for the remainder of the second stanza, claiming a 29-24 halftime lead.
- Buffalo State opened the second half with a pair of free-throws by Mills to trim the deficit to 29-26.
- Nazareth scored on the next possession to open a 16-4 run over the final eight minutes of the third frame to take a 45-30 lead at the final intermission.
- The Bengals outscored the Golden Flyers 19-16 in the final stanza, but it wasn't enough as Nazareth maintained a sizeable lead to claim the victory.
- Buffalo State finished with a 20-14 advantage in points in the paint, while the Golden Flyers forced 25 Bengal turnovers en route to a 22-19 edge in points off turnovers.
- Both teams were held to under 35 percent shooting from the floor.
FOR THE FOES
- Lizzie Straub led the Golden Flyers with 15 points on 8 of 9 shooting from the charity stripe.
- Jadyn Abrams and Rachel Benedict each scored nine points, with Benedict adding 15 rebounds.
UP NEXT
Buffalo State returns to the Sports Arena next weekend as it hosts the 32
nd-annual Betty Abgott Invitational. Thiel and Villa Maria open the tournament on Friday at 1 p.m., followed by the Bengals hosting Bryant & Stratton (Buffalo) at 3 p.m.