1-7
St. Bonaventure
9-0
Strong Second Half Leads St. Bonaventure Past Buffalo, 78-57
12/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
OLEAN, NY – The University at Buffalo women's basketball team hung tough with undefeated St. Bonaventure for 30 minutes on Wednesday night, but a 30-10 run during the middle of the second half led the Bonnies past UB, 78-57, at the Reilly Center.
The first half saw both teams shoot the ball extremely well as the Bulls shot 50.0 percent from the floor, including 75.0 percent from behind the arc. Freshman Nicki Hopkins showed her range yet again as she recorded nine points on 3-of-3 shooting from behind the arc in the opening half. Freshman Abby Dowd also had a solid opening 20 minutes scoring eight of her 10 points before the half. The Bonnies led by as many as seven in the opening half, but the Bulls cut it to five as they went into the half.
Kourtney Brown |
The second half belonged to the Bonnies as they shot 50.0 percent in the second half, including a 5-for-6 performance from behind the arc. The Bulls tied the game early in the half at 39 on a jumper from Dowd, but that is when the Bonnies responded with the game-changing run. Preseason All-MAC selection Kourtney Brown had a quiet first half scoring just two points, but turned it on in the second half with 16 points.
"They got on that one run that we couldn't stop and that was the game," said head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald. "They are a very good team and it is tough to win when your opponent shoots 69 percent from behind the arc."
The Bulls were led by Brown, who finished the night with 18 points and eight rebounds, while also adding two blocks. Junior Jessica Fortman had her best game of the season as she finished with 16 points and seven rebounds. Dowd played the first 34 minutes of the game and had a career-high 10 points, while adding a career-best five assists. Hopkins added nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from three-point range.
Abby Dowd |
The Bonnies, who improved to 9-0, were led by 19 points from Dana Mitchell and 14 points from Jessica Jenkins. Armelia Horton added 11 points and eight rebounds.
The Bulls return home on Sunday afternoon as they host Youngstown State at 2:00 pm.
