BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Villa Maria College women's basketball team took on Bryant and Stratton-Buffalo on Tuesday and the result was in their favor. After dropping the previous battle to the Bobcats, just three days earlier, the Vikings took control of the game early and won by a final score of 73-56. The victory moves the Villa record to 7-1, and the Bobcats drop their first game of the season and now sit at 7-1.
The Vikings got off to red hot start, taking an 18-1 lead to start the game.
Estella Anderson was a key piece as she scored 10 of those points.
Tekia Gary,
Dakaylah Winfield and
Taliah Bush all added buckets to keep the momentum going. Defensively, Villa allowed just seven points in the first quarter and after ten minutes of play they led 31-7, which proved to be the difference. The second quarter saw the two teams become more evenly matched as they began to trade baskets. Bush and Gary were a dynamic duo, as they combined to score 10 of the teams 17 points, and kept the unit ahead 48-22 as the battle went into half time.
The lead hit 30 for the Vikings at the 6:48 mark of the third quarter thanks to five straight points by Anderson and a layup by Gary made the score 55-24. The advantage remained in the 30's for much of the quarter until a late 8-0 run by the Bobcats trimmed the deficit. Heading into the final ten minutes of regulation, the opposition began to chip away at the 61-38 score. At the 3:14 mark, the Villa lead was cut to 14, but a three-point play by Bush sealed the game and gave the Vikings a 73-56 victory.
Bush finished the day with a career-high 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting, while also bringing in six rebounds. Anderson continues her dominate play as she recorded 17 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
The Vikings will have a bit of a break before their next game. They will return home on Friday, Dec. 13 when they host Johnson and Wales University at 5:30 p.m.
Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Vikings scores and awards by following @VillaVikings on Twitter and by liking the "Villa Maria Vikings" Facebook page.
