BUFFALO, N.Y. – Hannah Manwaring's layup tied the score at 57-57 with 4:30 left to play in the game, but the Buffalo State defense held Houghton to only two points the remainder of the way as the Bengals claimed the victory, 64-59.
 
Game Vitals
Score: Houghton – 59 | Buffalo State – 64
Records: Houghton: 1-1 | Buffalo State: 3-1
Venue: Buffalo State Sports Arena | Attendance: 100

Key Moments
>> Houghton scored the first six points of the game and led by as many as eight in the first quarter, but the Bengals slowly clawed their way back, knotting the score at 16 with just under three minutes to play and taking the lead only seconds later.
 
The game seesawed throughout the second quarter, but Aaliyah Graham hit a layup within the final minute of the half, giving the Bengals a two point lead as the two teams headed to the locker rooms.
 
>> Throughout the third quarter neither team led by more than two points as the two sides continued to trade baskets.  Houghton led by one with just under a minute to play in the quarter when a Bengal layup gave them a one point lead heading into the final period.
 
Key Stats
>> The game saw six lead changes and 10 tie scores.
>> Elle Reed led the Highlanders with 16 points, going 8-8 from the foul line, and collecting eight rebounds.
>> Freshman Cori Beck added 12 points and six steals, while Madison Detwiler posted 10 rebounds and six points.
>> Graham came off the bench to score 19 points for the Bengals, whose reserves outscored the Highlanders', 26-16.

Coach's Corner
"Our team is making some good strides on the floor.  At the start we came out very strong on the defensive end with great focus and execution of our game plan. 
 
"Unfortunately, our lack of rebounding in the second half, coupled with our increased turnovers, really impacted our performance. 
 
"Ultimately, though, I'm excited about our performance tonight.  We saw a lot of promise.  We'll go back to work after Thanksgiving and build on the positives of this game."  -Coach Alicia Mucher

Next Time Out
Houghton returns home after the Thanksgiving holiday to take on the visiting Panthers from the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 29.  The Panthers clipped the Highlanders last season in a nail-biter, 78-74, and have won the last three meetings between the two teams.