University at Buffalo
8-17, 6-6MAC
Miami (OH)
15-10, 7-5MAC
Strong Second Half Leads Miami Past Buffalo, 69-56
2/20/2013 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's basketball team was outscored 41-33 in the second half and fell in its return to Alumni Arena, 69-56, to the visiting Miami (OH) RedHawks. The Bulls shot it well in the second half, but recorded 12 turnovers, which Miami took advantage of. The loss evens UB's MAC record at 6-6.
The Bulls got off to a hot start to the game as they took an early six point lead just five minutes into the contest, going on a 9-0 run, which was capped off on a three pointer from freshman Mackenzie Loesing. The RedHawks, however, responded with a 12-0 run to take a six-point lead of their own. Miami (OH) led by as many as eight in the opening half, but a three pointer from freshman Karin Moss pulled the Bulls within three. Buffalo would end up heading into the break down five, 28-23.
The Bulls opened the second half on a 7-2 run, tying the game up at 30-30 on a layup from Margeaux Gupilan, but the RedHawks responded with four straight points. The second three pointer of the night from Moss cut the Miami (OH) lead to one at 40-39, but the RedHawks responded with a 12-2 lead taking their first double-digit lead at 11. The Bulls continued to fight back though and pulled to within five on a fastbreak layup from Loesing, but Miami (OH) hit its shots late including seven of its last eight free throws, most of those coming from Courtney Osborn.
Redshirt junior Cherridy Thornton led the way for Buffalo with 13 points, but did so on 5-of-17 shooting. Loesing had 12 points doing most of her damage from the free throw line where she was 7-of-9. She added five rebounds and two steals. Gupilan added nine points and a game-high five steals.
A trio of UB players finished with six points, including Moss and senior Nicki Hopkins, who each did so with two three pointers. For Hopkins, she now has 119 in her career, seventh most in school history. Moss went 2-for-3 from behind the arc, while adding a game-high five steals. Sophomore Christa Baccas had six points, a game-high nine rebounds, two assists, three blocked shots and two steals. Her three blocks give her 91 for her career, putting her in 10th place in school history despite being just a sophomore.
The RedHawks were led by 19 points from Osborn, with 16 of those coming after the break. Kirsten Olowinski added 14 points and seven rebounds and Haley Robertson had 15 points.
The Bulls head back to the road on Saturday when they face the Ohio Bobcats in Athens. Tip off is scheduled for 2:00 pm.
