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Four Double-Doubles Power UB to First Victory of 2014-15 at Saint Francis
11/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
LORETTO, PA – The State University of New York, Buffalo women's basketball team put six in double figures and added four double-doubles to defeat host Saint Francis (PA), 88-80. UB secured its first victory of the 2014-15 campaign Tuesday evening at DeGol Arena and improved to 5-0 all-time against the Red Flash.
The Bulls held a 45-43 lead at the half before ousting the Red Flash, 43-37, in the second stint. Following five lead changes and three ties in the first, UB powered to a 54-45 gap four minutes into the latter half. Back-to-back SFU three-pointers brought the Flash within three, but the Bulls responded to pull ahead by double digits and lead by as many as 17. SFU gained some ground late with a 7-1 run to cut within nine, but the Bulls made good on 4-of-6 at the line to seal the win.
"It's exciting to see a team," praised head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "The message of the day was, 'We're here together. We can't promise you the outside shot, but we can promise the box out. We can promise the rebound. If we can do that, we can have a shot. I can't promise you a win, but I can promise you an opportunity to be in it.' They bought into it and that's the kind of team we have. If we can buy into it on a consistent basis, we can be pretty special as we continue on."
"The key of the day was that Camera Miley decided she was going to play like the point guard I recruited. She really, really did a special job out there today. Although we had six people in double figures, Camera Miley was the player of the day."
Miley, a sophomore, rewrote several career-high performances coming off the bench to post 10 points, five rebounds and a team-best five assists in 24 minutes of play. With the Bulls trailing by seven in the first, Miley subbed into the game and hit a jumper that sparked a 13-0 run. It resulted in UB's largest lead of the first half, 34-28.
The Bulls dominated the boards, pulling down 69 to the Flash's 46, 21 of which were offensive. Senior Kristen Sharkey and sophomore Alexus Malone grabbed 13 each to lead the game. Redshirt-sophomore Rachael Gregory added 11 and senior Christa Baccas 10.
Shooting 38.6 percent from the floor, UB was paced by junior Mackenzie Loesing's 26-point showing. She joined Sharkey and Gregory in making a trio of steals. Sharkey tallied 18 points and Gregory 11, while Malone and Baccas joined Miley with 10.
With SFU in foul trouble during both frames, UB capitalized hitting 29-of-41 from the charity stripe.
Saint Francis' Alexa Hayward put up 24 points and added 15 assists good for an offensive double-double. Maya Wynn, who hit 4 threes, added 13 points and a game-best five steals.
The Red Flash held the advantage in steals, 14-10, and committed 20 turnovers to the Bulls' 29.
The Bulls return to Alumni Arena to host local foe Niagara at 2 pm Saturday.
