7-17, 2-8MAC
Ball State
8-15, 3-7MAC
Bulls Drop Cardinals, 61-37
2/4/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MUNCIE, IN - Following a night where the Bulls allowed 102 points, the University at Buffalo women's basketball team put forth a dominating defensive performance as the Bulls defeated Ball State, 61-37. The 37 points allowed by the Bulls were their fewest since the 2006-07 season.
The Bulls led for nearly the entire contest as Ball State held a couple two-point leads early on. The game changed in the second part of the first half as the Bulls held the Cardinals nearly scoreless for the final 11:20 of the half. During that span, UB went on a 16-2 run with the only two Ball State points coming on free throws.
Again, UB shot extremely well as it hit 54.2 percent of its shots in the opening 20 minutes. Defensively, the Bulls allowed the Cardinals to shoot just 16.7 percent from the field. The 15 points allowed by the Bulls in the first half were the fewest they have allowed in a game this year.
The Bulls struggled slightly from the floor in the second half, but Ball State would pull within 10 and that is as close as it would get. The Bulls responded on a 6-0 run following a jumper from Brittany Hedderson, which put them ahead 46-30. UB would go on to lead by as many as 25 in the second half, its largest lead in any game this year.
"I am extremely pleased with the way we responded on the defensive end following Thursday night," said head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald. "I thought we did a much better job on the glass, especially in the second half, and that helped us come away with the win today."
Hedderson led the way 17 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Redshirt sophomore Nytor Longar continued her strong week of play with 16 points, nine rebounds, a block and a steal. Senior Beth Christensen led the performance on the boards with a game-high 12 rebounds, including 10 on the defensive end. She added three points, two assists, two blocks and four steals.
Senior Teresa Semalulu added nine points and three assists, while senior Ephesia Holmes had six points and five assists off the bench. The Bulls also got scoring contributions from Christa Baccas and Margeaux Gupilan, who had five and three points, respectively. Baccas added nine rebounds off the bench. Junior Nicki Hopkins chipped in two points on a pair of free throws.
As a team, the Bulls outrebounded Ball State, 50-32, which is the fifth time this year that UB has reached 50 rebounds in a game. The 20.4% shooting by Ball State was the lowest by an opponent this year and the 37 points allowed by the Bulls were their fewest since allowing 35 to Albany on Dec. 6, 2006. It is the fewest points allowed by the Bulls in a road game since Daemen scored 36 on Dec. 8, 1985.
The Bulls will be off for the next week before returning home to Alumni Arena on Saturday where they will face Central Michigan at 3:00 pm. It will be the first game of a doubleheader with the UB men's team.
