University at Buffalo
8-8; 1-2
Miami (OH)
9-7; 1-2
Records Fall Despite Loss To Miami, 94-89
1/12/2011 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
OXFORD, OH – The 1,200 plus kids that were at Millett Hall for today's Kids Day got a treat as the University at Buffalo women's basketball team and Miami combined for 183 points as the RedHawks were able to hold on for a 94-89 win over the Bulls. Despite the loss senior Ashley Zuber set a new school record with 16 assists.
The first half saw Miami score 56 points, hitting on 10-of-14 from three point range. The Bulls did their best job trying to keep up with the hot-shooting RedHawks squad as UB shot 51.5 percent in the opening half. Miami got its lead up to as many 18 just one minute into the second half at 59-41, but a 13-2 Buffalo run pulled UB to within seven with 16:20 left in the second half. The RedHawks would rebuild their lead to 14 before UB was able to put forth another run.
Miami continued to lead by double digits at 85-74 with 5:31 left when a 12-4 Buffalo run pulled UB to within four at 90-86. The Bulls would get the ball back with 1:35 left in the half, but an offensive foul gave the ball back to Miami. The Bulls cut it to within three on two occasions in the final minute, but Miami's Courtney Osborn went 4-for-4 from the free throw late to preserve the lead.
"I am very proud of the defensive effort we gave in the second half and if we had a couple more minutes left, who knows what we could have done," said head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald. "We had a tough time defending the three in the first half and they made us pay."
Zuber broke a 13-year old school record for assists in a single game with 16. The total was also the most in the history of Millett Hall and tied for the fourth most in Mid-American Conference history. In addition, the total is the most by any player in the nation this season. Over the last two games, Zuber has recorded 24 assists and just two turnovers.
"I had no idea during the game that Ashley was putting up those numbers, but she is a huge part of our offense and to finish with 16 assists and just one turnover is remarkable," Hill-MacDonald added.
Not to be outdone, senior Kourtney Brown scored a career-high 35 points, moving into second place on the all-time scoring list and now has 1,634 points in her career. Brown also tied a career high with seven blocked shots, while adding nine rebounds and four steals.
Brown was one of four players in double figures, the first time UB has done that since the season opener against Howard. Brittany Hedderson added 17 points, while Jessica Fortman had 11 and Bridgette Kendricks added 10. Kendricks and Fortman each finished with five rebounds. Freshman Kristen Sharkey had six points off the bench.
Miami also had four players in double figures, including three who finished with over 20 points. Osborn had 24 points and 10 assists, while Maggie Boyer and Kirsten Olowinski each finished with 22 points. Olowinski also had a game-high 10 rebounds.
The Bulls will remain on the road as they head to Ohio on Saturday afternoon. UB will tip it off against the Bobcats at 4:30 pm.
