BUFFALO, NY - Shaquana Owens (Buffalo, NY/Tapestry Charter School) scored a game-high 25 points and Bianca Brown chipped in 19 as the Villa Maria Vikings picked up the program's biggest regular season win to date, downing the Buffalo State Bengals 68-63 inside the Buffalo State Sports Arena Friday afternoon.

Junior forward Owens, knocked down five triples and added nine rebounds, three assists and three steals as Villa overcame a slow start to win its opening game of the 2017 Betty Abgott Tournament and pick up its third straight win.

After falling behind 9-0 quickly, Villa finished the quarter on a 11-5 run to tim the deficit to three.  The Vikings then scored the first five points of the second quarter to take a two-point lead.  Villa held onto the lead into the break, 33-31.

Buffalo State opened the second half with a triple but Villa again answered with four straight points from Brown, and a three ball from Owens to gain a 40-37 edge.  The Bengals tied the game at 40 with 5:07 left and took a one-point edge, 43-42 with 2:49 left in the quarter after a triple from the left wing from Grace Licata.  They extended that lead to three moments later before senior guard Dominique Davis (Buffalo, NY/Genesee Community College) connected on a deep triple to tie the game at 45 before the end of the quarter.

Owens opened the fourth-quarter scoring with two free throws before Brown added a three to give Villa a five point lead.  Buffalo State responded with the next six points before eventually gaining a 54-52 lead with 6:22 left.  Owens then scored on a driving layup to tie the game and then drilled a long three to go back ahead by three.  But the game hadn't yet been put away.

Buffalo State was able to tie the game at 63 with 1:44 left with a triple by Katie Villarini.  Brown broke the tie with 59 seconds left with her third three of the game to give the Vikings the lead for good and seal the victory.

Villa improves to 4-1 on the season while Buffalo State drops to 1-1.  Villa will take on the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

BOX SCORE
Villa Maria Vikings (4-1, 1-1 NIAC)                      33 - 35 -- 68
Buffalo State Bengals (1-1)                                  31 - 32 -- 63

INSIDE THE BOX
* Villa finished with 13 assists on 24 made baskets
* Villa was 9-27 from beyond the arc while Buffalo State was 12-37
* Villa turned it over just 15 times and forced 16 Bengal turnovers
* Sophomore Tekia Gary (Washington, D.C./Genesee Community College) added 11 points, six rebounds and two assists off the bench for Villa
* Buffalo State won the rebounding battle 53-50 and also had the edge in offensive boards 21-18
* The Vikings held the Bengals to 31.3 percent shooting 
* Sophomore Nina Cray (Wheatland, IA/Calamus-Wheatland) finished with six points, a team-high 11 rebounds and three steals

WHAT THEY SAID
HC Al Monaco "We got down early and we really did a good of keeping our composure.  I'm really proud of our players.  This is a very good win for us against a quality and experienced opponent.

UP NEXT
Villa will take on the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg at 11 a.m. on Saturday in the final game of the Betty Abgott Tournament in the team's final game before Thanksgiving break.

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