The SUNY Oneonta women's basketball team nearly erased an eight-point deficit in the final 35 seconds but came up short today at home against Buffalo State 73-69.
 
A big offensive rebound off a missed free throw by Grace Licata of Buffalo State (12-12, 6-11 SUNYAC) with under eight seconds allowed time to run off the clock before she was fouled.  She missed both shots giving possession to Oneonta trailing by three where Alexa Amalbert (Nanuet/Nanuet) was fouled sending her to the line for two shots.  She made 1-of-2 and on the inbounds, Katie Villarini was fouled giving her a pair of free throws with .3 seconds remaining.  Villarini converted both shots to secure the victory for the Bengals.
 
A three-point play by senior Madeline Frank (Syracuse/Jamesville-Dewitt) brought Oneonta (17-5, 11-4 SUNYAC) to within three points at 68-65 with 16 seconds to go in the game.  Liv Lebaron (26 points) made a pair of free throws to push Buffalo's lead back to five points.  Senior Teresa Anken (Rome/Rome Free Academy) then buried a trey on the ensuing trip up the floor for the Red Dragons pulling them to within a basket with eight seconds to go.
 
Oneonta jumped out to an early 5-0 lead before a three by Lebaron put Buffalo on the scoreboard.  The Red Dragons pushed back ahead by six points before a late run by the Bengals made the score 14-12 Oneonta at the end of the first quarter.
 
Five quick points to open the second quarter gave the Bengals its first lead of the game.  Junior Olivia Allrich (Ballston Spa/Ballston Spa) buried a trey to knot the score at 17 apiece.  Buffalo State pushed ahead once more and grabbed a slim 26-24 lead at halftime.
 
The Bengals continued to lead throughout the third quarter pushing its lead into double digits twice, the last being at the 5:30 mark on a jumper by Katie Villarini (22 points).  Oneonta used a 14-9 closing run to close the gap entering the final period to 47-42.
 
Leading Oneonta today was junior Alexa Amalbert (Nanuet/Nanuet) with 18 points followed by Frank who added 15 points and 10 rebounds.  The two combined for 28 points in the second half.
 
The Bengals controlled the glass today, 52-40, including 16 offensive rebounds.  Villarini (10 rebounds), Lebaron (12 rebounds) and Princella McCullogh (12 rebounds) all recorded double-doubles in the game.  McCullogh reached double figures with 13 points.
 
The final three games of the regular season for Oneonta begins on the road this Tuesday at Oswego.  Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30pm.