University at Buffalo
2-10
Pittsburgh
8-4
Bulls Fall Short Against Hot-Shooting Panthers, 91-77
12/29/2012 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY - Despite shooting a season-high 77 points, the University at Buffalo women's basketball team fell to Pittsburgh on Saturday, 91-77. The Panthers shot 60.3% for the contest, while the Bulls shot a season-best 46.2%. For the second straight game, Buffalo received balanced scoring led by a career-high 18 points from redshirt junior Cherridy Thornton.
The first media time out saw the teams tied at 8-8, but Pittsburgh went on a 25-9 run to take a 33-17 lead with 6:30 left in the opening half. However, the Bulls hung tough and answered each Pittsburgh run, using a quick 8-2 run to pull within 10. The Panthers took a 44-31 lead into the half.
Pittsburgh increased its lead to 49-31 early in the second half, but Buffalo went on a 9-0 run capped off on a layup by sophomore Christa Baccas to pull within 49-40. The Panthers regained a 13-point advantage at 56-43, but an 11-3 UB run pulled the Bulls within five at 59-54. That score remained for nearly three minutes as Buffalo missed six straight free throws in that time period before Pitt answered with a quick 6-0 run. The Bulls never got closer than nine from the remainder of the game.
Thronton, playing in just her second game for the Bulls, finished with 18 points and six rebounds in 29 minutes of action. Loesing added 16 points before fouling out and played just 22 minutes. Baccas just missed a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. She added two assists, two blocks and three steals.
Junior Margeaux Gupilan had eight points and a game-high eight assists, tying her career best. Freshman Rachael Gregory finished with nine points and eight rebounds, snapping her streak of six straight games in double figures in points. Sophomore Sloane Walton added five points off the bench.
Pittsburgh (8-4) had five players in double figures led by 21 points from Brianna Kiesel and 18 points from Loilya Briggs.
The Bulls will wrap up non-conference play next Saturday at Cornell. Tip off is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
