Postseason WNIT | 4/2/2025 8:26:35 PM
BUFFALO 74, CLEVELAND STATE 69
BUFFALO, NY – Lani Cornfield scored five points for Buffalo late in the fourth quarter and sealed the game with a steal with 14 seconds remaining as the Bulls moved past Cleveland State and earned a spot in Saturday’s championship game of the 2025 Postseason WNIT.
The Bulls (29-7) will host Troy (24-13) for the title; tipoff is scheduled for Saturday, April 5 at 5 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
Buffalo’s defense clamped down in the final five minutes Wednesday and built a lead in a game that was close the entire way. Terah Harness hit a 3-pointer for the Bulls to put them ahead, 65-63, with 4:43 to go, and Cornfield’s scoring run made the margin 72-67 with 39 seconds remaining.
Mickayla Perdue hit two free throws for CSU to make it 72-69; Chellia Watson hit a free throw for Buffalo at :28 to make it 73-69, and Cornfield’s steal ended hopes for a Vikings rally. Chellia Watson scored 12 points for Buffalo in the last 2:15 of the second quarter as the Bulls took a 34-32 lead into the break.
Watson had 21 points; Cornfield closed with 15 points and seven rebounds and Kirsten Lewis-Williams added 14 points. Buffalo led in bench points, 20-3, and forced 21 turnovers.
The Vikings (27-10) had a 36-29 lead in rebounds. Sara Guerreiro had 18 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, and Perdue closed with 19 points. Destiny Leo scored 14 points and Jordana Reisma added 11 rebounds.
TROY 99, ILLINOIS STATE 96
NORMAL, IL – A frantic fourth quarter saw Troy score 35 points in those 10 minutes, with Briana Peguero coming through with a career-high 28 points as the Trojans slipped past Illinois State to earn a spot in Saturday’s championship game of the 2025 Postseason WNIT.
The Trojans (24-13) will play at Buffalo (29-7); tipoff is set for Saturday, April 5 at 5 p.m. ET with the game to be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
Troy came from behind to take an 82-80 lead with 4:13 to go on a 3-pointer from Shaulana Wagner. After a layup from Ashley Baez, a Peguero 3-pointer and two free throws from Zay Dyer, Troy led 94-88 with 37 to go.
Nevaeh Thomas drained a 3-pointer for the Redbirds (24-13), and when Maya Wong sank another 3-poiinter, ISU trailed just 97-96 with 15 seconds left. Baez made a free throw, and then Wagner came through with a huge steal, then quickly fouled. She made a free throw with one second remaining.
Fortuna Ngnawo had 16 points and seven rebounds for the Trojans. Emani Jenkins hit five 3-pointers for her 15 points, Zay Dyer added 13 points, Brianna Jackson scored 11 points and Baez added 10 points. Wagner also came through with 10 assists – Troy entered the game with the most rebounds in D-I and led in this one, 38-29, with a huge lead in offensive boards (20-4).
The Redbirds saw sophomore guard Shannon Dowell close with a career-high 37 points, the highest total by an ISU player in a postseason game. Thomas had 15 points and seven rebounds, Wong added 13 points and seven assists, Elyce Knudsen had 12 points and Doneelah Washington closed with 11 points and seven rebounds.
ISU shot 63 percent from the field and was 18-for-20 in free throws.