Bobcats Drop Vaden Cup Final in Overtime Thriller

BUFFALO, NY - The 2021 Women's Vaden Cup was decided in thrilling action on Sunday as a late fury by the Bryant & Stratton Buffalo Bobcats came up just short as they fell 83-82 in overtime to Bryant & Stratton Rochester.  Buffalo entered the tournament as the top seed and finished the season 10-7.

Buffalo held control of the game for the first 30 minutes before Rochester used a monstrous fourth quarter from Kathryn Kanhoye who went 5-of-6 from the floor in the quarter, helping Rochester erase a 15-point deficit and send the game to overtime.  

After Rochester scored the first four points of overtime, Buffalo responded with a bucket from junior Alissa Johnson.  Rochester's Shanell Glover answered 16 seconds later to get the lead back to four before two free throws from Dorian Sharp made it a six-point game with 1:03 left.  Janae Brannon then hit one of two free throws with 59 seconds left which was followed by a steal and score from Armoni Jordan to make it an 83-80 game with 45 seconds left.  Buffalo then forced another turnover as Brannon came up with a steal and dished ahead to Johnson who made it a one-point game with 29 seconds left.

After two missed Rochester free throws, Buffalo had a chance to win the game out of a timeout but was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer sounded, giving Rochester the come-from-behind win and Vaden Cup Championship.

Buffalo was led offensively in the game by Jordan who scored 23 points.  Johnson scored 22.  Rochester was paced by Sharp with 25 and Kanhoye with 22.  All players were named to the All-Tournament Team.  Rochester finished it's season with a 9-3 record.

TOURNAMENT MVP
Rochester's Dorian Sharp was named the Tournament's MVP after she scored 25 points in the win over Buffalo.  She scored 11 in a semifinal win over Syracuse and ended the tournament with 26 rebounds, 10 assists, 6 steals and 5 blocks.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Dorian Sharp (MVP), Rochester
Kathryn Kanhoye, Rochester
Alissa Johnson, Buffalo
Armoni Jordan, Buffalo
Julie Trowers, Syracuse
Anyla Harper, Albany