By: Ricky Webster
BOX SCORE
FREDONIA, N.Y.—The Fredonia State women's basketball team took a much needed win against Buffalo State as they defeated the Bengals 72-65 at Steele Hall.
The win keeps the Blue Devils in contention for the final playoff spot, as they improved their SUNYAC record to 4-11. The Bengals, who held the fifth playoff spot entering the day, drops to 7-8 in the conference.
The Blue Devils held the lead for the majority of the game, including the entire second half thanks to a solid night shooting. Fredonia State shot 72 percent from the foul line (18-25), 46.2 percent from the field (24-52), and a season-high 54.5 percent from the three-point line (6-11).
Liz Wierbinski proved to be the main contributor for the Blue Devils, finishing the game with a team-high 17 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. Wierbinski recorded her first double-double of the season with 16:05 remaining in the second half. Jaimie Warren collected nine rebounds to go along with 10 points while Nicole Calbi finished with 12 points and six assists.
Buffalo State tied the game at 18 with 8:29 remaining in the first half, and that was the closest the game got. The Blue Devils led by as many as 10 in the first half, and led at halftime 32-25.
The Bengals rallied to bring the game to within one at 11:06 in the second half, trailing 50-49. The Blue Devils pulled away the rest of the game, in large part to their clutch free-throw shooting going 10-13 down the stretch.
Fredonia State has three SUNYAC contests remaining. The Blue Devils travel to Geneseo on Feb. 15. at 6 p.m. The Blue Knights are in first place and currently undefeated in the SUNYAC at 13-0. They finish the regular season with Potsdam on Feb. 18 and Plattsburgh on Feb. 19.
