ATHENS, OH - Senior Sonia Ortega (Chihuahua, Mexico/Cobach) hit a driving layup with .08 tenths of a second left in regulation as Buffalo defeated Ohio University, 71-70, at the Convo in a Mid-American Conference game.

Ortega's dramatic game-winner gave Buffalo their fourth straight MAC road win and improved the Bulls to 17-5 overall and 7-4 in the conference. It is UB's best Division I mark since Buffalo was 18-4 during the 1996-97 season. The layup capped a game that saw the lead change hands four times in the final minute.

The Bulls trailed 31-29 at halftime to the Bobcats (8-13, 3-7) and did not lead until there was 7:19 left in the game. Ortega had given UB a 69-68 lead with :16 left when she hit one free throw. The Bobcats took the lead back on a driving layup by Jacquie Negrelli (12 points) with :07 left, setting up Ortega's heroics. After taking a timeout with :04 left, Ortega got the ball just over halfcourt and went the length of the court to score on a driving scoop shot from the right side of the basket to win it.

"We put the game on the shoulders of our senior and 'Sonny' took care of it," said Buffalo coach Cheryl Dozier. "She is a tremendous player with a great work ethic. I'm extremely proud of the way we battled, especially in the second game of a four-day road trip."

The Bulls were led offensively by junior Tara Perrier (Aurora, Ontario/Aurora) while putting four players in double figures. Perrier had 22 points, including a trio of three-pointers while junior center Tiffany Bell (Alexandria, VA/Hayfield) added 14 points while Ortega finished with 12 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Freshman Colleen Tabor (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) added 10 points and four assists for the Bulls, who shot 48% from the field for the game.

"Ohio had a really good defensive plan,"said Dozier of the Bobcats, who lost despite shooting 50% from the floor and outrebounding Buffalo, 35-29. "They defended the post really well and made us score from the perimeter."

The Bulls will host Akron on Wednesday night at 7:30 pm at Alumni Arena.