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Late Run Lifts Siena Women's Basketball Team To 58-50 Victory Over The Bulls
11/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The State University of New York, Buffalo women's basketball team suffered a 58-50 setback to visiting Siena Friday night in its season opener at Alumni Arena.
The Bulls were held scoreless over the final five minutes of play, while the Saints pieced together a 15-0 streak to seal the victory.
"You play the game to win the game, you play the game to find a way to win and learn lessons through the process," said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "We're going to have to get back to practice, learn some things and get better and hopefully show a different outcome when we play again."
Senior Kristen Sharkey opened the game with a layup, but 10 consecutive Siena points followed over the span of four minutes. In her first game back since a season-ending injury in 2012-13, redshirt-sophomore Rachael Gregory drained a three pointer on an Alexus Malone assist to spark a 15-4 UB run that resulted in a 17-16 edge at 7:50. The game was knotted for the fifth time at 3:47, 25-25, but the Saints inched ahead for a 33-29 gap at intermission.
Ten lethargic minutes opened the second stint as the teams combined to score just 14 points and deadlock the game at 38-38. Back-to-back UB three-pointers, separated by just one Siena free throw, secured the Bulls a 47-42 lead at 7:53. UB extended its cushion to seven, 50-43, at 4:58 with a Gregory layup – a layup that proved to be the Bulls' final points of the game.
The Saints drove the lane late to surge ahead. Siena had four layups, including an and-one, to regain the lead, 52-50, at 1:23. Senior Tehresa Coles confirmed the victory at the line in the waning moments of the game. She was a flawless 6-for-6 down the stretch.
Siena freshman Margot Hetzke led all players with a double-double of 29 points and 11 boards in her collegiate debut. Coles added 13 points and six rebounds to help the Saints outrebound UB, 49-37. The visiting squad pulled down 20 offensive rebounds.
Senior Christa Baccas posted six blocks on the night to go with six points and nine rebounds. With a career-best eight blocks, she has tallied six or more on seven occasions. Tonight's six rank tied for 10th on the single-game list.
Malone led UB on the boards, pulling down 10. Junior Mackenzie Loesing had a Bull-best 13 points with Gregory chipping in 12.
Buffalo narrowly outshot Siena hitting 32.1 percent from the field to the Saints' 31.0 percent showing. Siena committed 20 turnovers, though collected 15 steals. Buffalo suffered 23 turnovers and made 10 steals.
UB looks to even its record on Tuesday, Nov. 18 when it travels to St. Francis (PA) for a 7 pm non-conference contest.
