University at Buffalo
1-5
Eastern Illinois
2-2
Defensive Miscues Cost Buffalo Against Eastern Illinois
11/24/2012 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
DAYTON, OH – Despite career highs in scoring from three different UB players, the Bulls allowed a season-high 89 points, falling to Eastern Illinois, 89-73, during the second day of the 2012 Dayton Marriott Classic. The loss drops UB to 1-5 on the season.
Eastern Illinois led for the first 10 minutes of the contest before a three-point play from redshirt sophomore Kristen Sharkey gave Buffalo a 21-19 lead with 9:13 left. However, EIU answered with an 8-0 run and led for the rest of the evening. The Panthers got their lead up to 13 in the first half, but a jumper from freshman Mackenzie Loesing at the buzzer sent Buffalo into the break down 11.
Eastern Illinois opened the second half on an 11-0 run with all 11 points coming from Katlyn Payne. The Panthers led by as many as 25 points in the second half, but Buffalo did try and come back, scoring 41 points in the second half, a season-high for points in a half. However, the Panthers scored 46 over the final 20 minutes, shooting over 56 percent from the floor.
Loesing and sophomore Sloane Walton each finished with career highs with 21 points, the first time since March of last season that Buffalo had two 20-point scorers in the same game. Loesing becomes the first Buffalo freshman to score over 20 points in a game since Jessica Fortman back in the 2007-08 season. Loesing added five rebounds, a game-high eight assists, a block and three steals. More importantly, she did not turn the ball over at all. Walton finished 8-for-11 from the floor, including 5-for-8 from three point range.
Also reaching career high scoring numbers was sophomore Valerie Majewski, who finished with 11 points, knocking down three three-pointers. As a team, UB hit 14 three pointers, tying the school record which was set back during the 1996-97 season against Youngstown St. 12 of those three came from the bench, helping record a season-high 55 bench points.
Sophomore Christa Baccas finished the night with five points, four rebounds and a career-high seven blocked shots. In all, nine different players found the scoring column.
The Bulls return home on Wednesday as they face Duquesne at 5:00 pm. It is the first game in a doubleheader with the Buffalo men's team.
