5-12, 0-3MAC
Akron
7-10, 1-2MAC
Bulls Drop High-Scoring Affair To Akron, 91-82
1/11/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's basketball team and the visiting University of Akron put on quite the show Wednesday night, combing for 103 second half points, but the Bulls fell to the Zips, 91-82. For the first time in nearly two years UB had two players with 20-point games. The loss drops the Bulls to 5-12 on the season and 0-3 in the MAC.
The Zips got out to an early eight point lead as they led through out the opening half. The Bulls cut it to two with 12:29 to go in the half, but Akron would get its lead back up to 12 with 4:55 left. UB managed to cut it to six before the break, setting up a second half that was full of offensive highlights.
An Akron three pointer at the 17:45 mark got its lead back to 10, but the Bulls responded on a 9-0 run, capped off on a layup from Nytor Longar, who had 21 of her career-high 26 points on the second half. The Zips regained a seven-point advantage at 56-49 when the Bulls went on a 10-2 run, to take their only lead of the game at 59-58 on a Margeaux Gupilan layup. The lead would be short lived however, as Akron's Carly Young answered with a three, putting the Zips up for good. The Bulls got to within four one more time as Brittany Hedderson turned a steal on the defensive end into a three point play on the offensive side with 3:48 left, but the Zips again answered with a big three pointer.
Longar led the way with her 26 points, the first 20-point game of her career. She also recorded her second career double-double with 10 rebounds. Hedderson added 21 points, her third straight 20-point game. The last time the Bulls had two players with 20 points in a game was January 27, 2010 against Toledo. Tying her career-high was senior Beth Christensen, who finished with 11 points, including 2-of-3 from behind the arc. It was the second time that Christensen had two three pointers in a game, and the first since March 4, 2009 at Kent State.
Senior Teresa Semalulu had another outstanding game in the defeat, finishing with nine points,14 rebounds, four assists and three steals. Both her rebounding and assist numbers were career highs. Also finishing with a career high in assists was Gupilan, who had eight, to go along with her nine points and career-high six rebounds.
Freshman Christa Baccas, who picked up her fifth career start, finished with four points and six rebounds. Sophomore Rachel Bantelman added two points and an assist in four minutes.
Akron (7-10, 1-2 MAC) had five players in double figures, led by 20 points from Taylor Ruper. Young had 16 points and Hanna Luburgh added 15 off the bench. The Zips shot 11-of-25 from behind the arc, opposed to just a 4-for-16 performance from the Bulls.
The Bulls remain home on Sunday afternoon when they host Bowling Green. Tip off is set for 2:00 pm.
