Pioneers Win Tight Battle with Wells

The Alfred State women's basketball team overcame a slow start and won a tight 63-59 battle at Wells on Monday night. The duo of Catherine Bialecki (Alfred Almond) and Emily Benes (Buffalo/Mt. Mercy) combined for 42 of the Pioneers points on the day.

The Express jumped out to a 11-2 lead in the first five minutes of the game before Bialecki got the blue & gold back in the game. Bialecki scored all of the Pioneers 10 points in the 1st quarter as the PIoneers trailed 14-10. Wells led by as many as eight, 20-12, in the 2nd quarter but the Pioneers cut into the lead and trailed by one two, 28-26, at the half.

Wells continued to lead through most of the 3rd quarter but the Pioneers took their first lead of contest 40-39 in the closing minutes of the quarter and led by the same score heading into the final stanza. The 4th quarter featured four ties before Alfred State went on a 12 to 5 run to make it 63-56 before the Express hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.

Bialecki finished the game 14 for 20 from the field and led all scorers with 31 points. She also grabbed 10 boards and blocked two shots. Benes was key off the bench. She finished with 11 points. Janae Gibson (Bronx/Pelham Prep) scored seven points, Kelsey Shaulis (Ovid/South Seneca) passed out seven assists, and Rayanna Anderson (Wellsville) chipped in five points, six boards, and five assists.

The Pioneers shot 41.4% from the field, 16.7% from three, and hit 65% from the foul line (13 for 20 - including 10 for 13 in the 2nd half). The team also held a 39 to 37 rebounding average.

Wells was led by Carley Ryan and Kamarie Maturine. Ryan was 10 for 24 to finish with 30 points while Maturin chipped in 10 points and nine boards. The Express shot 37.9% from the field, 23.8% from three, and 55.6% from the foul line.

The Pioneers are right back in action on Tuesday when they host Buffalo State at 6 p.m.