University at Buffalo
1-0
Youngstown State
0-1
Bulls Rally for Tough Road Win
11/13/2013 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
YOUNGSTOWN, OH - The Buffalo women's basketball team used a strong effort from the freshman class and a team-high 22 points from Mackenzie Loesing to rally from a halftime deficit and win at Youngstown State, 72-65. With 29 fouls called on the Bulls, the load was shouldered by a UB bench that provided 32 points (19 in the second half).
The win moves UB's record to 2-0 this season, while the Penguins drop to 0-2. The Bulls have won back-to-back road games to start a season for the first time since 1983.
The Penguins were in control for much of the first half, grabbing its biggest lead of the game with 11 minutes left in the first half with a 21-11 advantage. The Bulls would use a slow but sure gameplan to chip away, and would get within two before settling for the 32-29 halftime score. Loesing would score 11 points in the half, and Margeaux Gupilan would score three points while passing out five assists.
A three pointer from Youngstown in the second half's first possession would be a turning point for UB, who would respond with a 13-0 run over a four minute stretch that would give it a lead it would never relinquish. Sloane Walton capped the run off with a bang, hitting a three pointer in transition that forced a time out from the home side. After the run, the game became mired in fouls, with Buffalo whistled for 17 fouls and Youngstown with 14 in the second half alone. That would lead to 43 combined free throws, and the Penguins would use it to stay in the game.
With many of the normal rotation players in deep foul trouble, the Bulls turned to its four-member freshman class for a lift. They would get it in spades, headed up by Camera Miley. With Gupilan forced to play just four minutes in the second half, Miley spearheaded the offense and posted eight points with three rebounds, four assists and two steals in the final half alone. Nia Roberts, playing in her first collegiate game, would score four points that was highlighted by an acrobatic basket and a foul. Alexus Malone and Joanna Smith would combine for eight points in important minutes.
Spurred on by the freshmen, the UB bench outscored Youngstown State's reserves 32-8.
"They (the freshmen) understood that our backs were against the wall and we had to do everything we could to play with a little more energy and emotion," said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "Sometimes when you put freshmen on the floor they fly around and dont know what to do. I really loved what Camera brought to the team today. She was poised, she came focused, and even though she didn't know a lot of the offense she used every opportunity to help us score."
Loesing and Kristin Sharkey were also critical in the offense's success in the final 20 minutes. After struggling to get her 11 points on 12 shots in the first half, she would score 11 points on just eight shots in the second to come just shy of matching her career high. Sharkey, who was plagued with quick fouls throughout the game, made the most of her 15 minutes of playing time, scoring nine points with three rebounds in the second half.
After allowing 50 percent shooting in the first half to the Penguins, the defensive vice was clamped down and YSU would hit just 7-29 shots the rest of the way. Of the home team's 33 points in the second half, 17 would come from the charity stripe.
The team will return home to Alumni Arena for the 2013-14 home opener on Saturday, hosting Cornell in another critical non-conference game. As part of a doubleheader with the men, Saturday's game will tip off at 12:30 pm.
