Bengal Beat - Volume 10, Issue 23
Women's Basketball Wins SUNYAC Championship; Women's Hockey Loses in ECAC West Semifinal; Indoor Track and Field Competes at New York State Meet; Men's Basketball Season Ends With Heartbreaker
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (25-3/15-1) - Bengals Win SUNYAC Championship
Buffalo State's women's basketball team won its ninth SUNYAC Championship tonight, and first under second-year Head Coach Fred Batchelor, with a 56-50 win over second-seeded Cortland. The conference title was the Bengals first since 1994.
The Bengals opened the playoffs on Thursday night with a 72-49 victory over Oswego, in a game that Buffalo State only trailed for nine seconds. Monica Polka (Youngstown/Lewiston-Porter) led the Bengals with 19 points and nine rebounds, and Chrissy Milleville (Niagara Falls/Niagara-Wheatfield) poured in 15 points.
The victory over Oswego set up a Friday night semifinal meeting with No. 5 Plattsburgh. Buffalo State only trailed for a short time in the first half, before cruising to a 49-34 win. The Bengals defense stymied the Cardinal shooters all day, holding Plattsburgh to just 26 percent shooting
from the field. Buffalo State shot only slightly better, hitting on 20-of-65 (31 percent) from the floor. Abby Kochan (Newport/West Canada) led Buffalo State with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
In Saturday's championship game, it was the Bengals defense that would again be the difference. The Bengals shot just 21 percent in the first half, but trailed by just 24-19 at the intermission, thanks to good team defense and outstanding rebounding. Buffalo State's shooting improved
slightly in the final 20 minutes, but the game was won at the defensive end of the floor, as the Bengals continued to hang around before taking their first lead of the game with 6:51 to play. It was not until 52 seconds remaining that Buffalo State went ahead to stay, as they hit six clutch
free throws down the stretch to ice the 56-50 win. Tournament MVP Polka led Buffalo State with 16 points and eight rebounds. All-Tournament selections Monique Hanks (Liverpool/Liverpool) and Kochan helped pace the Bengals at both ends of the floor. Hanks scored 14 points and pulled in 13 rebounds, including nine offensive boards. Kochan scored 12 points and had seven rebounds and two blocks.
Buffalo State's SUNYAC Championship earned it an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. The pairing will be announced Sunday night at 9 p.m. Buffalo State is one win away from breaking the school record for wins in a season, as its 25-3 record is currently tied with that of the 1993-94 team.
All-SUNYAC Honors
Buffalo State was well-represented on the All-SUNYAC Teams, announced Wednesday night. Monica Polka earned First Team honors, while Chrissy Milleville was selected to the Second Team, and Monique Hanks received Honorable Mention status.
Block Party
Buffalo State set a new school record for blocks in a single-season. The team's five blocked shots tonight against Cortland, gave it 143 on the season, one better than the old mark set during the 1988-89 season.
The NCAA announced Sunday night that the Buffalo State women's basketball team will host Ohio Wesleyan in a first-round game of the NCAA Division III tournament this Wednesday at 7 p.m. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
Buffalo State earned an automatic bid to the tournament after winning its ninth State University of New York Athletic Conference title with a 56-50 win over Cortland on Saturday. Led by second-year Head Coach Fred Batchelor, Buffalo State will make its 11th trip to the NCAA tournament, and first since 1995. Buffalo State is currently 25-3, matching the highest single-season win total in school history.
Ohio Wesleyan is in the tournament after winning the North Coast Athletichio Wesleyan advanced to the national semifinals last season.
The winner of Wednesday's game will play at Ithaca on Saturday.
WOMEN'S HOCKEY (6-14-1/6-12-1) - Bengals Lose in ECAC West Semifinal
Buffalo State's pushed the top-seeded Elmira Soaring Eagles to the brink in the first round of the inaugural ECAC West playoffs. Entering the playoffs, Coach Bob Filighera knew he needed a total team effort to have any chance of upsetting the Soaring Eagles. In the previous four games, Buffalo State was winless and had been outscored 19-0 by Elmira. It was essential for the Bengals to provide more offense to compliment the play of ECAC West Goalie of the Year, Mary Keddie (Williamsville/Buffalo Bisons). The women responded to the challenge. Playing their finest game of the year, the Bengals added their offensive potential to compliment the outstanding play of Keddie.
Janelle Schmitt (Arlington, WA/Northwest Admirals) opened the game scoring on an unassisted goal at the 5:40 mark of the first period. Elmira answered later in the first period, to tie the game as the two sides went into the first intermission knotted at 1-1. The Soaring Eagles came
out of the intermission flying. Elmira scored three goals in the second period on 20 shots and seemed to be running away with the game. For the Bengals, Carolyn Totaro (Rome/North Country CC) scored the team's second goal and her third goal of the year, to keep the Bengals within striking distance.
Entering the third period being down 4-2, the Bengals' resolve was evident as the team refused to lay down. Senior Dyanne Roberts (Rome/Rome Blades) scored a quick goal with just 12 seconds gone in the period to start the comeback. Bree Cote (Copperton, UT/Aspen Avalanche) continued her outstanding rookie season by tying the game at 4-4 as Kim Costanzo (Cheektowaga/Buffalo Bisons) and Leah DeLormier (Rooseveltown/North Country CC) assisted on the goal. Elmira then scored what seemed to be the game-winning goal, but the Bengals would not let the lead stand. Following a timeout with 1:30 left to play, Totaro scored her second goal of the game and fourth of the season to tie the game with 23 seconds to play, sending the semifinal contest into overtime. Assisting on the game-tying goal, was Jennifer
Downey (Freeville/Ithaca Stars) and Buffalo State's leading scorer, Emma Wadsworth (Arlington, VA/ Reston Raiders), who recorded her second assist of the night. Unfortunately, the Soaring Eagles had one more goal up their sleeve as they netted the game winner at 4:11 of the sudden death overtime period and ended Buffalo State's upset bid, and season. When all was said and done, the Bengals scored five goals on
12 shots and Mary Keddie made 49 saves on 55 shots.
Accolades?
Buffalo State's foundation seems to be solid as sophomore Mary Keddie (Williamsville/Buffalo Bisons) was named Goalie of the Year and named to the ECAC West First Team All Star squad. Keddie posted a .930 save percentage and a 2.62 goals against average while making a league-best 651 saves.
Future Looks Bright...
In addition to Mary Keddie (Wiliamsville/Buffalo Bisons) returning, Buffalo State also looks forward to retaining the core of the team as Buffalo State will lose only two players to graduation this year, Leah Delormier (Rooseveltown/North Country CC) and Dyanne Roberts (Rome/Rome Blades). Sophomore Emma Wadsworth (Arlington, VA/Reston Raiders) and freshman Bree Cote (Copperton, UT/Aspen Avalanche) led the Bengals in points (17) and goals (11) respectively this year.
INDOOR TRACK & FIELD - Bengals Compete at New York State Meet
At the NYSCTC Championship, held at St. Lawrence University, the Buffalo State men's team raced to a sixth-place finish out of 14 teams, earning 51 points. Markus Allen (Commack/St. John's the Baptist) led the way as Allen placed first in each event speeding to a 6.54 split in the 55-meter and set a new NYSCTC record in the 200-meter with a time of 22.35. The previous 200-meter record of 22.36 stood for 12 years. John Lesure (Rochester/Greece-Athena) continued his remarkable multi-dimensional racing season by recording impressive finishes in the triple jump, long jump, 55-meter dash, and 200-meter dash. Lesure seized second place in the triple jump with a mark of 13.44 meters and third place in the long jump with a distance of 6.69 meters. In running events, Lesure placed seventh in the 55-meter dash (6.92) and sixth in the 200-meter dash (24.38).
Aaron Kinard (Queens/Springfield Gardens) placed fourth in the 200-meter dash (23.09) to earn Buffalo State a first, fourth, and sixth-place finish in the event.
Two new school records were set in the relay events as the Bengal squad of Joe Halter (Cheektowaga/Maryvale), AJ Walsh
(Hamburg/Frontier), Matt Kubiak (Lake View/ Frontier), and Joe Niezgoda (Alden/Alden) shattered the distance medley relay record and set a new 4 x 800-meter relay mark. In the distance medley relay, the team shattered last week's record of 11:01.09 with an outstanding pace of 10:47.63. In the 4 x 800 relay, the men placed ninth while establishing the new school record of 8:12.54.
In other field events, Aaron Masters (Grand Island/Grand Island) placed fifth in the pole vault competition and set a season's best height of 4.26 meters. Luis Espinosa (Medina/Medina) finished eighth in the shot put with a distance of 13.05 meters.
The women had success setting season's best marks in two relay events. The team of Autumn Hensel (Alden/Alden), Emily Balzano (New Hartford/New Hartford), Mimi Mason (Buffalo/Turner Carroll), and Nicole Rowland (Brooklyn/Stephen Austin) was game with a 1:57.40 time
in the 4 x 200 meter relay. Danielle Hensel (Alden/Alden), A. Hensel, Balzano, and Mason recorded their finest performance of the season in the 4 x 400 meter relay with a time of 4:21.82.
Who's Next?
Buffalo State travels to Fredonia this weekend for the Fredonia Open Qualifier on March 2. The competitors will use this weekend's meet as a last chance to qualify for the NCAA Division III Championship that will be held at Ada, Ohio at Ohio Northern University from March 8-9.
MEN'S BASKETBALL (15-8/11-5) - Bengals End Season With Heartbreaker
Buffalo State?s season came to an end Wednesday night in the SUNYAC Quarterfinals at the Utica War Memorial at the hands of number-seven seeded Cortland. The Red Dragons upset the second-seeded Bengals 49-48.
The Bengals were fortunate to trail Cortland just 30-26 at halftime, as the Red Dragons dominated the glass, out-rebounding Buffalo State 23-14, including grabbing 13 offensive boards over Bengal defenders. In the second half, Buffalo State awoke and mounted a 12-0 run and held a
12-point advantage at 48-36 with 9:34 remaining. Buffalo State would not be heard from again, however, as the Bengals did not score another point. The Red Dragons closed the game on a 13-0 run of their own, including the game-winner on a put-back with 0.7 seconds remaining. Cortland out-rebounded the Bengals 45-28, and grabbed 22 offensive rebounds compared to just 20 Buffalo State defensive boards. Three of the Red Dragons? offensive rebounds came in the final flurry, leading to the winning basket.
Josh Becker?s (Hamburg/Frontier) 13 points led Buffalo State?s scorers. The sophomore forward also added four steals. Senior Shawn Haseley (Grand Island/Grand Island) and sophomore Perry Davis (Buffalo/Seneca) each added eight points apiece, and freshmen Jeremy and Justin Konst (Williamsville/Williamsville East) each scored seven points and dished out three assists. It was the first time the twins were both in the Bengals starting lineup.
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Senior center Pat Adams (Brooklyn/Boys and Girls) was selected First Team All-SUNYAC, and first-year sophomore Josh Becker (Hamburg/Frontier) earned Honorable Mention status
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (25-3/15-1) - Bengals Win SUNYAC Championship
Buffalo State's women's basketball team won its ninth SUNYAC Championship tonight, and first under second-year Head Coach Fred Batchelor, with a 56-50 win over second-seeded Cortland. The conference title was the Bengals first since 1994.
The Bengals opened the playoffs on Thursday night with a 72-49 victory over Oswego, in a game that Buffalo State only trailed for nine seconds. Monica Polka (Youngstown/Lewiston-Porter) led the Bengals with 19 points and nine rebounds, and Chrissy Milleville (Niagara Falls/Niagara-Wheatfield) poured in 15 points.
The victory over Oswego set up a Friday night semifinal meeting with No. 5 Plattsburgh. Buffalo State only trailed for a short time in the first half, before cruising to a 49-34 win. The Bengals defense stymied the Cardinal shooters all day, holding Plattsburgh to just 26 percent shooting
from the field. Buffalo State shot only slightly better, hitting on 20-of-65 (31 percent) from the floor. Abby Kochan (Newport/West Canada) led Buffalo State with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
In Saturday's championship game, it was the Bengals defense that would again be the difference. The Bengals shot just 21 percent in the first half, but trailed by just 24-19 at the intermission, thanks to good team defense and outstanding rebounding. Buffalo State's shooting improved
slightly in the final 20 minutes, but the game was won at the defensive end of the floor, as the Bengals continued to hang around before taking their first lead of the game with 6:51 to play. It was not until 52 seconds remaining that Buffalo State went ahead to stay, as they hit six clutch
free throws down the stretch to ice the 56-50 win. Tournament MVP Polka led Buffalo State with 16 points and eight rebounds. All-Tournament selections Monique Hanks (Liverpool/Liverpool) and Kochan helped pace the Bengals at both ends of the floor. Hanks scored 14 points and pulled in 13 rebounds, including nine offensive boards. Kochan scored 12 points and had seven rebounds and two blocks.
Buffalo State's SUNYAC Championship earned it an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. The pairing will be announced Sunday night at 9 p.m. Buffalo State is one win away from breaking the school record for wins in a season, as its 25-3 record is currently tied with that of the 1993-94 team.
All-SUNYAC Honors
Buffalo State was well-represented on the All-SUNYAC Teams, announced Wednesday night. Monica Polka earned First Team honors, while Chrissy Milleville was selected to the Second Team, and Monique Hanks received Honorable Mention status.
Block Party
Buffalo State set a new school record for blocks in a single-season. The team's five blocked shots tonight against Cortland, gave it 143 on the season, one better than the old mark set during the 1988-89 season.
The NCAA announced Sunday night that the Buffalo State women's basketball team will host Ohio Wesleyan in a first-round game of the NCAA Division III tournament this Wednesday at 7 p.m. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
Buffalo State earned an automatic bid to the tournament after winning its ninth State University of New York Athletic Conference title with a 56-50 win over Cortland on Saturday. Led by second-year Head Coach Fred Batchelor, Buffalo State will make its 11th trip to the NCAA tournament, and first since 1995. Buffalo State is currently 25-3, matching the highest single-season win total in school history.
Ohio Wesleyan is in the tournament after winning the North Coast Athletichio Wesleyan advanced to the national semifinals last season.
The winner of Wednesday's game will play at Ithaca on Saturday.
WOMEN'S HOCKEY (6-14-1/6-12-1) - Bengals Lose in ECAC West Semifinal
Buffalo State's pushed the top-seeded Elmira Soaring Eagles to the brink in the first round of the inaugural ECAC West playoffs. Entering the playoffs, Coach Bob Filighera knew he needed a total team effort to have any chance of upsetting the Soaring Eagles. In the previous four games, Buffalo State was winless and had been outscored 19-0 by Elmira. It was essential for the Bengals to provide more offense to compliment the play of ECAC West Goalie of the Year, Mary Keddie (Williamsville/Buffalo Bisons). The women responded to the challenge. Playing their finest game of the year, the Bengals added their offensive potential to compliment the outstanding play of Keddie.
Janelle Schmitt (Arlington, WA/Northwest Admirals) opened the game scoring on an unassisted goal at the 5:40 mark of the first period. Elmira answered later in the first period, to tie the game as the two sides went into the first intermission knotted at 1-1. The Soaring Eagles came
out of the intermission flying. Elmira scored three goals in the second period on 20 shots and seemed to be running away with the game. For the Bengals, Carolyn Totaro (Rome/North Country CC) scored the team's second goal and her third goal of the year, to keep the Bengals within striking distance.
Entering the third period being down 4-2, the Bengals' resolve was evident as the team refused to lay down. Senior Dyanne Roberts (Rome/Rome Blades) scored a quick goal with just 12 seconds gone in the period to start the comeback. Bree Cote (Copperton, UT/Aspen Avalanche) continued her outstanding rookie season by tying the game at 4-4 as Kim Costanzo (Cheektowaga/Buffalo Bisons) and Leah DeLormier (Rooseveltown/North Country CC) assisted on the goal. Elmira then scored what seemed to be the game-winning goal, but the Bengals would not let the lead stand. Following a timeout with 1:30 left to play, Totaro scored her second goal of the game and fourth of the season to tie the game with 23 seconds to play, sending the semifinal contest into overtime. Assisting on the game-tying goal, was Jennifer
Downey (Freeville/Ithaca Stars) and Buffalo State's leading scorer, Emma Wadsworth (Arlington, VA/ Reston Raiders), who recorded her second assist of the night. Unfortunately, the Soaring Eagles had one more goal up their sleeve as they netted the game winner at 4:11 of the sudden death overtime period and ended Buffalo State's upset bid, and season. When all was said and done, the Bengals scored five goals on
12 shots and Mary Keddie made 49 saves on 55 shots.
Accolades?
Buffalo State's foundation seems to be solid as sophomore Mary Keddie (Williamsville/Buffalo Bisons) was named Goalie of the Year and named to the ECAC West First Team All Star squad. Keddie posted a .930 save percentage and a 2.62 goals against average while making a league-best 651 saves.
Future Looks Bright...
In addition to Mary Keddie (Wiliamsville/Buffalo Bisons) returning, Buffalo State also looks forward to retaining the core of the team as Buffalo State will lose only two players to graduation this year, Leah Delormier (Rooseveltown/North Country CC) and Dyanne Roberts (Rome/Rome Blades). Sophomore Emma Wadsworth (Arlington, VA/Reston Raiders) and freshman Bree Cote (Copperton, UT/Aspen Avalanche) led the Bengals in points (17) and goals (11) respectively this year.
INDOOR TRACK & FIELD - Bengals Compete at New York State Meet
At the NYSCTC Championship, held at St. Lawrence University, the Buffalo State men's team raced to a sixth-place finish out of 14 teams, earning 51 points. Markus Allen (Commack/St. John's the Baptist) led the way as Allen placed first in each event speeding to a 6.54 split in the 55-meter and set a new NYSCTC record in the 200-meter with a time of 22.35. The previous 200-meter record of 22.36 stood for 12 years. John Lesure (Rochester/Greece-Athena) continued his remarkable multi-dimensional racing season by recording impressive finishes in the triple jump, long jump, 55-meter dash, and 200-meter dash. Lesure seized second place in the triple jump with a mark of 13.44 meters and third place in the long jump with a distance of 6.69 meters. In running events, Lesure placed seventh in the 55-meter dash (6.92) and sixth in the 200-meter dash (24.38).
Aaron Kinard (Queens/Springfield Gardens) placed fourth in the 200-meter dash (23.09) to earn Buffalo State a first, fourth, and sixth-place finish in the event.
Two new school records were set in the relay events as the Bengal squad of Joe Halter (Cheektowaga/Maryvale), AJ Walsh
(Hamburg/Frontier), Matt Kubiak (Lake View/ Frontier), and Joe Niezgoda (Alden/Alden) shattered the distance medley relay record and set a new 4 x 800-meter relay mark. In the distance medley relay, the team shattered last week's record of 11:01.09 with an outstanding pace of 10:47.63. In the 4 x 800 relay, the men placed ninth while establishing the new school record of 8:12.54.
In other field events, Aaron Masters (Grand Island/Grand Island) placed fifth in the pole vault competition and set a season's best height of 4.26 meters. Luis Espinosa (Medina/Medina) finished eighth in the shot put with a distance of 13.05 meters.
The women had success setting season's best marks in two relay events. The team of Autumn Hensel (Alden/Alden), Emily Balzano (New Hartford/New Hartford), Mimi Mason (Buffalo/Turner Carroll), and Nicole Rowland (Brooklyn/Stephen Austin) was game with a 1:57.40 time
in the 4 x 200 meter relay. Danielle Hensel (Alden/Alden), A. Hensel, Balzano, and Mason recorded their finest performance of the season in the 4 x 400 meter relay with a time of 4:21.82.
Who's Next?
Buffalo State travels to Fredonia this weekend for the Fredonia Open Qualifier on March 2. The competitors will use this weekend's meet as a last chance to qualify for the NCAA Division III Championship that will be held at Ada, Ohio at Ohio Northern University from March 8-9.
MEN'S BASKETBALL (15-8/11-5) - Bengals End Season With Heartbreaker
Buffalo State?s season came to an end Wednesday night in the SUNYAC Quarterfinals at the Utica War Memorial at the hands of number-seven seeded Cortland. The Red Dragons upset the second-seeded Bengals 49-48.
The Bengals were fortunate to trail Cortland just 30-26 at halftime, as the Red Dragons dominated the glass, out-rebounding Buffalo State 23-14, including grabbing 13 offensive boards over Bengal defenders. In the second half, Buffalo State awoke and mounted a 12-0 run and held a
12-point advantage at 48-36 with 9:34 remaining. Buffalo State would not be heard from again, however, as the Bengals did not score another point. The Red Dragons closed the game on a 13-0 run of their own, including the game-winner on a put-back with 0.7 seconds remaining. Cortland out-rebounded the Bengals 45-28, and grabbed 22 offensive rebounds compared to just 20 Buffalo State defensive boards. Three of the Red Dragons? offensive rebounds came in the final flurry, leading to the winning basket.
Josh Becker?s (Hamburg/Frontier) 13 points led Buffalo State?s scorers. The sophomore forward also added four steals. Senior Shawn Haseley (Grand Island/Grand Island) and sophomore Perry Davis (Buffalo/Seneca) each added eight points apiece, and freshmen Jeremy and Justin Konst (Williamsville/Williamsville East) each scored seven points and dished out three assists. It was the first time the twins were both in the Bengals starting lineup.
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Senior center Pat Adams (Brooklyn/Boys and Girls) was selected First Team All-SUNYAC, and first-year sophomore Josh Becker (Hamburg/Frontier) earned Honorable Mention status
Media Contact:
Jeffrey Ventura, Sports Information Director | 7168786030 | venturjm@buffalostate.edu