University at Buffalo
7-16, 5-5MAC
Central Michigan
14-9, 8-2MAC
Bulls Run Into Hot-Shooting Chippewas In Mt. Pleasant
2/10/2013 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
MT. PLEASANT, MI – The University at Buffalo women's basketball team allowed 86 points on Sunday afternoon as the host Chippewas shot 54.3 percent in the second half to defeat Buffalo, 86-51. The loss is UB's third straight and drops it to .500 in MAC play.
Buffalo scored the first two points of the game and were tied early at 8-8 when Central Michigan went on a 12-2 run to go up by double figures. The Chippewas extended their first half lead to 19, but the Bulls were able to score the final six points of the half and went into the break down 38-25.
Central Michigan outscored Buffalo 48-26 in the second half, scoring the first 11 points of the half. The Bulls cut the CMU lead to 16 following a three-pointer from Sloane Walton, but it would be UB's last field goal for 10 minutes, in which the Chippewas went on a 25-3 run. CMU took its largest lead of the game at 38 before UB's Cherridy Thornton responded with a three.
Thornton led the way for Buffalo with a team-high 22 points, the highest total for a UB player this season. She added three rebounds, two assists and three steals. Thornton was the only Buffalo player in double figures as Christa Baccas and Mackenzie Loesing each finished with eight points. Baccas added a team-high seven rebounds.
Kristen Sharkey finished with four points, while Walton and Karin Moss each had three. Junior Rachel Bantelman finished with two points in her first game action since Jan. 5.
Central Michigan, which continued a stretch of four straight home games scoring over 80, was led by Crystal Bradford, who had 24 points and eight rebounds, while Jas'Mine Bracey added 18 points off the bench. In all, the Chippewas had four players finish in double figures.
Buffalo was outrebounded 52-30 in the contest and had 18 turnovers, which CMU turned into 15 points. UB also scored 15 points on Central Michigan's 15 turnovers.
Following a brief mid-week break, Buffalo returns to Michigan next weekend when they face Eastern Michigan on Saturday afternoon. Tip off is at 2pm.
