Buffalo State split a two-game series this past weekend, losing Friday at Oneonta and winning Saturday at New Paltz.
Both games were high-octane, with opposing teams going on multiple runs leading to high-scoring games.
In Friday’s loss, junior forward Staci McElroy continued her great season, leading the Bengals with 17 points and eight rebounds while senior captain Barb Kiliszek contributed 12 points and six boards.
The game was tied 29-29 at halftime, but the Bengals would go on to lose, having been outscored 22-10 from the free throw line in a game which the Bengals shot 11-19 from the stripe (63 percent).
In Saturday’s game, the Bengals would make it to the line 48 times, helping them defeat New Paltz, 70-59. The Bengals shot only 30 percent from the field, but used a late 11-0 run along with a 33-15 advantage in free throws to put the Hawks away for good. In the game the Bengals shot 68 percent from the line.
Sophomore center Bianca Smiley posted her third double-double of the season as she finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds. The Bengals also got a boost off the bench from freshmen Hillary Koller, who had a double-double of her own with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
“We shot 67 free throws Friday and Saturday, which shows our aggressiveness,” head coach Sue Roarke said. “That intensity is what’s going to carry us throughout the season, as long as we make them.”
With the win, the Bengals snapped a 14-game home winning streak for the Hawks, who fell to 2-5.
The Bengals have stormed out to an impressive 5-1 record on the season, which is their best start in 11 years. They’re doing it with a balanced attack that features three scorers in averaging double digits in Kiliszek, McElory and Smiley, along with suffocating defense that has only given up only 49.7 points a game.
Smiley has picked up where last year’s center, Dee Layne, left off, averaging 9.8 rebounds a game to go along with her 11.7 ppg.
She said personal statistics aren’t important.
“As long as we’re winning, that’s all I care about,” she said. “This is what I came to Buffalo State for — to win games and ultimately a championship.”
McElroy has taken some of the offensive load off of Kiliszek, averaging an impressive 15.8 points per game. Kiliszek is scoring 10.5 points a game.
Roarke pointed to McElroy’s focus as the reason for her improvement, saying that she’s maintained her high-level of play against lesser teams and that she’s seen a newfound sense of urgency in her game this season.
Kiliszek said in-game adjustments are a big reason the Bengals have had success this year.
“As the captain, I feel it’s my responsibility to call out what is going on the court and make changes,” she said.
Roarke said her captain has done a great job handling the ball and distributing.
The defensive intensity has also heated up, setting the Bengals up for runs of 11-0, 22-0 and 24-6 that have put teams away in three of their five wins.
“Good shooting and getting out in transition has been the key,” Roarke said. “If we do this all season we will be successful.”
The Lady Bengals look to continue their hot run at 6 p.m. Friday at home against Cortland.
Aubrey Gibert can be reached by email at gibert.record@live.com.