University at Buffalo
4-11, 2-0MAC
Ohio
5-9, 0-2MAC
Bulls Blitz Bobcats, 73-36
1/13/2013 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's basketball team remained perfect in Mid-American Conference play on Sunday afternoon, dominating the Ohio Bobcats, 73-36, at Alumni Arena. The Bulls did little wrong over the 40 minutes, finishing with nine players who recorded points and all 10 healthy players saw at least 10 minutes of action. The Bulls also grabbed 61 rebounds, by far their highest total of the season.
The Bulls led wire-to-wire in the contest, opening the game on a 19-4 run and never looking back. In total, Buffalo held a double-digit lead for 33 and a half minutes. UB had it working on both the offensive and defensive end as freshman Mackenzie Loesing continued to turn her defensive prowess into offense, scoring the first five points, capped off with a steal in for a fast break layup. Another steal and lay in from Loesing at the 9:11 mark gave Buffalo its first 20-point advantage of the contest. The Bulls ended the first half on a 7-0 run, taking a 41-15 lead into the half. It marked the second straight game that UB has allowed its opponent to score under 20 points in the opening half.
Ohio pulled to within 23 at 47-24 just three minutes into the second half, but following a Buffalo timeout, UB went on a 15-3 run, extending its lead to 62-27. The Bulls led by at least 30 for the final 12:54 of the game. The 37-point victory for the Bulls was their largest win since a 92-38 win over Youngstown State on Dec. 13, 2009. It was also UB's largest margin of victory ever against a Mid-American Conference opponent, and the first 30-point win against a MAC team since Jan. 16, 1999 vs. Bowling Green.
"Defensively our goal is to hold teams under 59 points and at halftime I challenged our team to hold the opponent to under 45 points and they responded," said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "This team is playing very unselfish basketball right now because they have chosen to play for the name on the front of their uniforms and not the back."
The Bulls finished with four players in double figures, led by 16 points from freshman Rachael Gregory, two off her career high. Gregory also added nine rebounds and three steals. Loesing continued her strong play with 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals in just 22 minutes. Fellow freshman Karin Moss added 11 points and two steals.
Redshirt junior Cherridy Thornton made her second career start and finished with 10 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots. The Bulls got solid minutes from the post players as Kristen Sharkey finished with seven points and eight rebounds and sophomore Christa Baccas had five points and a game-high 14 rebounds, one off her career-best. Sophomore Kaila Callender also saw 11 minutes of action and finished with four points and a blocked shot.
Junior Margeaux Gupilan added four points, a game-high seven assists and three steals, while senior Nicki Hopkins backed her up at the point, finishing with two rebounds, an assist and a steal. Sophomore Sloane Walton finished with two points and a career-high five rebounds.
As a team the Bulls finished with 61 rebounds, their most in a game since pulling down 62 against Niagara on December 11, 2004. UB also had another solid day from the free throw line, going 10-of-12 from the charity stripe.
The Bulls will look to increase their winning streak on Wednesday evening as they hit the road for the first time in MAC play at Kent State. Tip off is set for 7:00 pm.
