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Hot Second Half Leads Kent State Over Buffalo, 72-63
1/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – It was a tale of two halves for the University at Buffalo women's basketball team on Saturday evening as the Bulls were unable to hold on to a 17-point half time lead, falling to Kent State, 72-63, at Alumni Arena.
UB stormed out to a 41-24 halftime advantage as the Bulls shot 47.1 percent from the floor. Senior Jessica Fortman and sophomore Nicki Hopkins lit up the nets from three in the opening half as the duo combined to go 6-for-10 from behind the arc. Up 14-13, the Bulls went on an 18-2 run, which was capped off on a layup from freshman Kristen Sharkey, giving UB a 32-15 advantage with 5:01 left in the half. A jumper from Fortman with 47 second left gave the Bulls their largest lead of the game at 41-22.
The second half belonged to the Golden Flashes, who outscored UB 48-22 in the half. With the Bulls up 51-39 at the 10:39 mark, Kent State went on a game-changing 15-0 run over just a three minute period. A three pointer from Hopkins with 4:36 left pulled UB within four, but the Golden Flashes responded with four straight points. The Bulls again got it to five on a three from Fortman, but four straight free throws by Kent State clinched the game.
Fortman led the Bulls with a season-high 21 points. Fortman, who had hit just one three this season prior to today, went 5-of-8 from behind the arc, while also adding nine rebounds. Hopkins had a season-high 14 points, including a 4-for-7 performance from three. Senior Kourtney Brown picked up her 38th career double-double with 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. She also added two assists, five blocks and three steals. Senior Ashley Zuber finished with a game-high eight assists, while adding three points, three rebounds and three steals.
Kent State was led by 27 points from Jamilah Humes, who also added eight rebounds, five assists, a block and two steals. Ellie Shields had 13 points, while Stephanie Gibson added 12 points, seven assists and six steals.
The Bulls head back on the road for their next two games beginning at Miami on Wednesday afternoon. The Kid's Day game at Millett Hall is set for 1:00 pm.
