University at Buffalo
1-6
Duquesne
5-1
Freshmen Shine In Loss To Duquesne
11/28/2012 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's basketball team was led by a pair of freshmen on Wednesday evening, but the Bulls fell to Duquesne, 78-52. For the second straight game, Mackenzie Loesing led the Bulls in scoring. The loss drops Buffalo to 1-6 on the season.
Loesing and fellow freshman Rachael Gregory combined to score the first 17 points of the game for Buffalo, but UB was unable to take a lead in the contest. The Bulls were able to cut the Duquesne lead to four with 7:34 left in the first half, but the Dukes responded on the very next possession by hitting a three pointer and getting fouled, completing a four-point play and retaking an eight-point lead. Duquesne went on to lead by as many as 12 in the opening half.
The Dukes opened the second half on a 16-3 run as they got their lead up to 25 at 54-29. Duquesne continued to be the aggressor for much of the second half as it led by as many as 31 in the contest. However, the Bulls continued to fight to the final buzzer as they got late scoring contributions from Loesing, Valerie Majewski and Nicki Hopkins.
"I thought we got better as the game went along and I think we took some positive steps tonight," said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "We took it to the basket more and we got to the free throw line more than we had in previous games and those are the little things we are working on each and every day in practice."
Loesing finished with 19 points, five rebounds and two steals, while Gregory just missed a double-double with 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Redshirt sophomore Kristen Sharkey added nine points and six rebounds, while Majewski finished with seven points and a career-high seven rebounds. Despite not scoring in the contest, junior Margeaux Gupilan tied her career high with eight assists.
Duquesne, which improved to 5-1 on the year, was led by 16 points from April Robinson and 14 points and 12 rebounds from Wumi Agunbiade. Belma Nurkic added 11 points and four assists.
The Bulls return to action on Saturday evening when they head to Bucknell for a 7:00 pm matchup with the Bison.
