BOCA RATON, FL - The University at Buffalo women's basketball team continued the best start in school history by winning the Florida Atlantic New Year's Tournament on Dec. 28-29, earning UB's first road tournament title in their Division I era.

The Bulls scored a season-high 49 first-half points and went on to a convincing 81-53 victory over the host Owls of Florida Atlantic in the finals. Buffalo improved to 9-1 on the season with the win, tying a school record for consecutive victories at nine.

The Bulls forced 16 first-half turnovers with a stifling defense and got another outstanding performance from tournament MVP Sonia Ortega (Chihuahua, Mexico/Cobach) in the win, the team's ninth straight.

Ortega had 18 points, on 8-of-14 shooting and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds in 33 minutes of action. Junior Tiffany Bell (Alexandria, VA/Hayfield) added 14 points while also earning a place on the all-tournament team.

The Bulls also got strong performances from Nisha Wilson (Toronto, Ontario/St. Joseph's), Tara Perrier (Aurora, Ontario/Aurora) and freshman Kim Kilpela (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield) in the victory.

Wilson and Perrier each had 10 points while Kilpela had a career-best 15 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass, to go along with seven points and three assists.

As a team the Bulls outrebounded Florida Atlantic, 64-41, including an impressive 26 offensive rebounds. The Bulls led just 14-11 with 13:29 left in the first half before embarking on a 20-2 run over the next seven minutes to take a 34-13 lead and control of the game.

Freshman walk-on Rachel Martin (Kenmore, NY/Kenmore West) came off the bench to score eight points and grab eight rebounds in just nine minutes in her first career action in the second half.

Buffalo advanced to the finals of the tournament with a 59-52 win over Northeastern.

The Bulls three captains - Tiffany Bell, Sonia Ortega and Mari McClure - led the way by scoring in double figures and the Bulls got a major contribution from freshman Kim Kilpela.

Bell had 15 points and 14 rebounds, Ortega had 14 points, five assists and five steals and McClure, who injured her back in the game, got off the deck to score 13 points and contribute two steals and two assists in the win. Kilpela, meanwhile, had seven points and matched her career-high with eight rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench for the Bulls.