ROCHESTER, NY -- The RIT women's basketball team lost their 2013-14 home opener 91-72 versus Buffalo State in non-conference action from Clark Gym Saturday.

Sophomore #Ashlynn Palmitesso (Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley)# led RIT with 16 points, while #Sydney Frank (Haverford, PA/Friends' Central) added 12 points for the Tigers who shot 32.8 percent from the floor. (Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley)Courtney Tennant (Cortland, NY/Cortland) added nine points and grabbed 12 rebounds and (Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley)Jess Kramer (Fayetteville, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt)# scored eight points and had five rebounds.

Staci McElroy led Buffalo State with 30 points. Olivia Luciani added 12 points, while Kelly Kell scored 11 points for the Bengals who shot 43.9 percent from the floor.

RIT led by as many as seven points in the first half. Tennant scored a lyup with 10:45 to play in the opening half to give the Tigers a 15-8 lead.

Buffalo State closed out the half on a 32-10 run, leading 40-25 at the half. Palmitesso led RIT with 13 first-half points, while McElroy paced the Bengals with 18 points.

Buffalo State extended their lead to 23 points in the second half, crusing home for the 91-72 win.

RIT shot 32.8 percent from the floor on 21-of-64 shooting. The Tigers were 6-of-21 from behind the arc and went 24-of-38 from the floul line. The Tigers committed 18 turnovers and had 43 rebounds.

Buffalo State shot 43.9 percent from the floor on 29-of-66 shooting. The Bengals were 4-of-12 from three point land and went 29-of-37 from the foul line. Buffalo State committed 16 turnovers and had 46 rebounds.

RIT returns to action on Tuesday, December 3 in the first round of the Wendy's College Classic.