University at Buffalo
7-15, 5-4MAC
Bowling Green
15-7, 6-3MAC
Bulls Fall Just Short Against Bowling Green
2/7/2013 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – Despite allowing just 25 second half points on Thursday night against Bowling Green, the University at Buffalo women's basketball team was defeated in a tough 61-56 decision against the visiting Falcons at Alumni Arena. The loss drops Buffalo to 7-15 on the season and 5-4 in conference play.
The Falcons led through out the contest as they opened the game on a 13-5 run, but the Bulls were kept in the game by freshman Mackenzie Loesing, who scored the first 10 points for UB. Bowling Green was able to extend its lead to 23-12 midway through the opening half and continued to lead by 11 in the late seconds of the half when freshman Karin Moss hit a three pointer at the buzzer to send the Bulls into the break down 36-28.
UB came out of the half and used its defense to create offensive opportunities, opening the half on an 8-1 run, pulling within one at 37-36. The Bulls capped off the run on a fast-break opportunity from Loesing, who received a long pass from sophomore Kasheema Besley.
Bowling Green answered the Buffalo run with seven straight points, but the Bulls kept fighting back and pulled within three on four different occasions, the last time coming with just five seconds left on the first career three pointer from sophomore Christa Baccas. However, Bowling Green hit two free throws in the final three seconds to clinch the victory.
"I thought our guards early in the game had some fear and were tentative in making decisions," said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "Kasheema came in and did a nice job settling us down and that is the great thing about this team that on any given night someone different can step up and be special."
Loesing led the Bulls with 20 points and nine rebounds, her third 20-point game of the season. Redshirt junior Cherridy Thornton added 14 points and four rebounds off the bench.
Baccas had seven points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots, one off her career-high, while Moss added eight points off the pine, including a pair of three pointers. Besley also came off the bench and tied her career high with six assists, adding three rebounds and three steals, which were a new career high.
Bowling Green was led by Chrissy Steffen, who had 14 points, was BG's only double figure scorer on the night. Alexis Rogers added nine points and eight rebounds.
For the sixth time in conference play the UB bench outscored its opponent, tonight it was by a 22-16 margins.
Buffalo will return to the road this weekend as it heads to Central Michigan on Sunday afternoon. Tip off is at 2:00 pm and will air live on SportsTime Ohio and ESPN3.
