University at Buffalo
5-2
St. Francis (Pa.)
2-4
Bulls Out-Gun St. Francis, 87-77
12/4/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY - The Buffalo women's basketball team won its third game in a row, beating St. Francis (PA) 87-77. Facing an opponent that came into Wednesday night averaging just under 80 points per game, the UB (5-2) offense needed to find a way to match that firepower. It would do just that, with Mackenzie Loesing setting a new career high with 29 points and Alexus Malone posting career highs of 16 points and 12 rebounds.
For the second straight game, the team would lead wire-to-wire, and came out hot with a 19-3 run from the opening tip. That stretch saw the UB defense limit the Red Flash (2-4) to just one made basket in 18 attempts that would go until the 11:42 mark in the first half. It wouldn't just be missed shots forced by Buffalo's defense, but it would also make six steals and force eight total turnovers in the same period.
St. Francis would slowly come back in the opening half, and would pull within six before two UB baskets in the final 24 seconds gave the Bulls a 41-31 lead at the break. Both Malone and Loesing had 12 points in the half, and Malone would join with Christa Baccas to lead the rebounding effort with seven each. While St. Francis would hit almost half of its shots from three, making five in 21 attempts, the Bulls would score all 41 points from inside the three point line, with 28 coming in the paint and nine on free throws.
The Red Flash would open the second half with a basket, but Buffalo would respond with a 10-0 run that featured five points from Loesing alone. Facing a full-court press defense from the very start of the game, it was feast or famine for the Bulls, who found numerous easy baskets off press breaks that were balanced by costly turnovers. Without senior point guard Margeaux Gupilan for the second half, the Bulls would turn to Malone, Loesing, and Karin Moss to counter an aggressive press.
Leading 62-50 with 9:33 to go in the game, the Bulls allowed the Flash to cut the lead to four points thanks to second-chance opportunities, with three straight baskets coming thanks to offensive rebounds. The game would be played in the single digits until the final two minutes, but despite the evaporated lead, Buffalo was not phased and would use the opposition's aggressive defense to its advantage. Loesing scored 10 of her career-best 29 points from the 5:35 mark to the final minute, single-handedly keeping the St. Francis offense at an arm's length.
The lead would fall to four points, 75-71, with 3:29 left in regulation, but two quick baskets from Loesing and Baccas would put the game out of reach. After struggling at the free throw line in Sunday's win over Pittsburgh, the Bulls rallied to have one of its best games of the season at the charity stripe, hitting 23-33 that included five free throws in the final two minutes.
"We had to match their press with our poise, and today I thought we did a tremendous job of beating a really scrappy team that was hungry for success on the road," head coach Felisha Legette-Jack said. "In the last two days we have come together and holding each other accountable and accepting responsibility for their mistakes and that's been a challenge for us in the past."
Baccas would just miss out on a double-double, recording 11 points with nine rebounds. She was as disruptive as ever on defense, with five blocks and two steals while joining with Kristen Sharkey to hold St. Francis star forward Alli Williams to just 6-23 from the field. For the game, the Bulls would score 48 points in the paint with just two three pointers made.
The 5-2 start to the season is the best since 2002-03, when that squad opened with a 7-1 record.
With the team taking advantage of its lone home game in the month of December, it will now look to extend its win streak Saturday at Siena. Tip off against the Saints is scheduled for 2 pm.
