ITHACA, N.Y. – Buffalo's hot second half shooting and 10-2 run to close the game helped the visitors to a 65-58 victory over Cornell on Thursday evening at Newman Arena. The Big Red fell to 3-4 with the loss, while the Bulls improved to 4-3.

Buffalo shot 58 percent in the final 20 minutes to rally from a halftime deficit and overcome a scrappy Big Red team that punished the bigger, more athletic Bulls on the backboards (45-37, including 18-10 on the offensive glass). The Bulls closed strong over the final 2:08, regaining the lead at 57-56 on a Rachel Gregory layup and never surrendering it.

Nicholle Aston had a career-high 19 points and four rebounds in just 20 minutes of action, while Nia Marshall notched 14 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Christine Kline played a great floor game with four points, four rebounds, three assists and career highs of six steals and two blocked shots. Megan LeDuc had six points, a career-high eight rebounds and three assists and Sarah Poland notched six points and four boards in the loss. Cornell hung in until the final minutes despite 24 turnovers and just 32 percent shooting from the field.

Christa Baccas scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds, both team highs, off the bench to lead four double figure scorers for the Bulls. Alexus Malone had 11 points, four rebounds, six steals, three blocks and two assists and both Mackenzie Loesing and Rachael Gregory had 10 points apiece. Buffalo had 12 steals and eight blocked shots.

Cornell stifled several UB runs in the second half and didn't relinquish the lead until there was five minutes remaining, then the teams traded the lead five times with three ties until the Bulls took control in the final 90 seconds.

Aston twice helped the Big Red regain the lead in the final three minutes to establish a career scoring high, scoring 13 of her points after the break. Cornell's second half lead ballooned to eight twice in the second half, the last time with 10:22 left when Poland's free throw made it 45-37. Four minutes later, Buffalo tied the game at 50-50 with Gregory and Baccas each scoring four during the run.

Defense was the name of the game in the first half, as both teams shot under 40 percent and combined to commit 29 turnovers, but Cornell's dominance on the glass (27-19) gave the home team the edge. The Big Red chased Buffalo off the 3-point line (1-of-3) and held a decisive 16-5 edge in free throw attempts to make up for its 28 percent shooting in the first stanza on its way to a 27-23 lead at the break.

Cornell held on to its lead despite having its top two leading scorers and three total starters off the floor with two personal fouls. Aston had six points and two rebounds in just eight minutes before going to the bench.

Cornell shot just 25 percent in the first 12 minutes, but its scrappiness on the defensive side of the floor allowed the Big Red to hold a 13-12 lead. The Big Red scored two quick buckets coming out of the media timeout to build its lead to 17-12 and stretched to nine at 21-12 to complete an 11-2 Big Red run. Cornell held the Bulls to one field goal (1-of-10 with four turnovers) in more than nine minutes during the stretch. Buffalo chipped away at the lead once Marshall went out with her second foul with two minutes left and got within four points at the half. Baccas and Loesing each had six points at the break for the visitors.

The Big Red returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 6 when it hosts Bryant at 2 p.m. at Newman Arena.