Strong Third Quarter Helps Push Bobcats Past Vikings 68-59

BUFFALO, NY - A stifling defensive effort and a strong third quarter helped push the Bryant & Stratton Buffalo Bobcats past the Villa Maria Vikings 68-59 on Saturday afternoon inside the Villa Athletic Center.  The Bobcats improved to 3-1 this season against the Vikings and 21-7 on the season overall.

Junior guard Janae Brannon led all scorers with 16 points while also adding nine rebounds and three steals.  She was 7-of-9 from the floor while playing all 40 minutes.  Fellow junior Alissa Johnson and sophomore Danyea Braclay each added 14 points.  Braclay finished one rebound shy of a double-double and came up with four steals.  

Villa held a six-point led at halftime and then proceeded to hit the first shot of the second half, before the Bobcats rattled off 15-straight points to take a 44-37 lead.  They were able to extend that to 10 with 53 seconds left in the quarter after Johnson converted an old-fashioned three-point-play.

Villa then opened the fourth quarter with 12 of the first 16 points to tie the game at 55 with 5:57 left, but the Bobcats never gave up the lead.  Johnson hit two free throws on the ensuing possession and hit two more minutes later before Brannon extended the lead to six on a layup with 4:25 left.  Brannon and Johnson combined to score 15 of Buffalo's 17 fourth-quarter points to pull away in the final minutes.

Villa came into the game ranked third in the latest United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division II National Poll and was awarded the number-three seed in the upcoming National Tournament.  BSC Buffalo currently sits sixth in the Division I poll and awaits its seeding for the National Tournament which is set to be announced on Tuesday, March 3rd at 4:30 p.m.

UP NEXT
BSC Buffalo currently sits sixth in the Division I National Poll and awaits its seeding for the National Tournament which is set to be announced on Tuesday, March 3rd at 4:30 p.m.

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