University at Buffalo
5-12, 1-3MAC
Ohio
4-13, 0-4MAC
Fast Start Leads Bulls To First MAC Win
1/16/2010 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's basketball team scored the first seven points and led wire-to-wire on Saturday afternoon as the Bulls picked up their first conference win, defeating Ohio, 76-62, at Alumni Arena. For the first time this season the Bulls had four players in double figures in scoring as UB improves to 5-12 on the season and 1-3 in the MAC.
The Bulls got off to an extremely quick start as they scored the first seven points of the game and just three minutes in, UB already had a double-digit lead at 12-2. Up 22-12 with 10 minutes left in the half, the Bulls went on a 17-4 run as they took their largest lead of the half at 39-16 on a three from Abby Dowd. The Bulls would go on to score 47 points in the opening half, tying their season-high which they set in the first half against Youngstown State. As a team, UB shot 56.3 percent from the floor in the opening half and 63.6 percent from behind the arc as they took a 47-29 lead into the half.
The Bulls continued their strong play early in the second half as they went on a 20-8 run over the first 10 minutes of the second half to take their largest lead of the game at 30, 67-37. The Bulls had five different players record points during that scoring drive, including junior Kourtney Brown who ran the floor for fast break points on two consecutive possessions. The Bobcats would get back into the game during the final eight and half minutes as they ended the game on a 23-8 run.
Kourtney Brown |
"It's nice to get a MAC win," said head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald. "We hit some big three-point shots early on and I think that created a dilemma for Ohio because they really wanted to jam on our inside game. Those threes forced them to come out to defend our shots and that opened things up for us inside."
The Bulls had four players in double figures for the first time this season and for the first time since February 25, 2009 against Bowling Green. Sophomore Brittany Hedderson led the way with 17 points in just her second game back from injury. Hedderson went 7-of-12 from the floor, including 3-of-4 from behind the arc. Brown recorded her seventh straight double-double with 16 points, a game-high 15 rebounds, three assists, four blocks and a steal. More importantly for Brown, she recorded just one turnover on the day. Junior Jessica Fortman had 13 points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal as she went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Also finishing in double figures was Dowd, who recorded 11 points, three rebounds, three assists, a block and two steals. Freshmen Chrissy Cooper and Nytor Longar each finished with eight points. Longar added three rebounds and a block.
Abby Dowd |
The 9-for-14 performance from three-point range was UB's best shooting performance from behind the arc since converting on 9-of-14 against Albany during the 2007-08 season. Defensively, UB held Ohio to just 36.8 percent from the floor as Ohio's top two scorers combined for just 15 points.
The Bulls hit the road again for their next two conference games beginning on Tuesday night at Kent State. Tipoff against the Golden Flashes is set for 7:00 pm.
