Buffalo Gals Edge Sixth-Ranked Minnetonka 49-47

Tenth-ranked Buffalo used a strong inside game to hand the Minnetonka Skippers the team’s second loss of the season Friday evening, winning 49-47.

Courtney Fredrickson drained a 3-point field goal to bring the Skippers within one at 48-47 with 1:03 to play. Minnetonka then had a chance to tie the game but turned the ball over and Buffalo’s Jamie High made one of two free throws with 4.1 seconds left.

Minnetonka got the ball into the front court with about two seconds to play after a time out, but couldn’t get off a shot before the final buzzer.

Minnetonka's defense had a hard time stopping Buffalo's 6-1 junior center Emily Spier.

"We get hurt inside because we're out-sized really almost all the time," said Minnetonka head coach Leah Dasovich. "She played a great game, and we didn't have an answer for her tonight. At times we played really well and at times we showed our youth and made some mistakes in key times. We're at that point in the season– we just talked about it– that every possession matters. We can't go on empty possessions four, five, six times in a row down the floor any more."

Just two of Minnetonka's top eight are seniors.

The Buffalo Bisons led 24-20 at the half and increased their lead to 27-20 early in the second half before Minnetonka rallied to tie the game at 32-all.

Junior guard Joanna Hedstrom had 12 points to lead Minnetonka. Senior guard Kelly McKenzie and eighth grade center Courtney Fredrickson had 10 each.

Minnetonka, ranked No. 6,  dropped to 10-2.

Buffalo improved to 10-3 on the season.

The Skippers host Rochester John Marshall (4-7) Tuesday in a game starting at 7 p.m.