Bulls to Host Niagara in Non-Conference Action Saturday
11/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Buffalo vs. Niagara Game Notes
BUFFALO, NY – The State University of New York, Buffalo women's basketball team (1-1) returns to Alumni Arena to host Niagara (0-2) Saturday at 2 pm.
The Bulls put six in double figures and added four double-doubles to defeat host Saint Francis (PA), 88-80, Tuesday night at DeGol Arena. Picking up its first win, UB was paced by junior Mackenzie Loesing's 26-point showing. Senior Kristen Sharkey tallied 18 points and redshirt-sophomore Rachael Gregory 11, while senior Christa Baccas and sophomores Alexus Malone and Camera Miley each chipped in 10. The Bulls dominated the boards, pulling down 69 to the Flash's 46, 21 of which were offensive. Sharkey and Malone grabbed 13 each to lead the game. Gregory added 11 and Baccas 10. Miley had a Bull-best five assists.
Niagara is in the hunt for its first win of the season after dropping its first two games at Youngstown State, 83-61, and at Pitt, 70-54. NU shot 41.3 percent from the field against the Penguins and 41.2 percent from beyond the arc against the Panthers. Val McQuade leads the Purple Eagles with 13.0 points per game, while Sylvia Maxwell adds 11.0. Gabby Baldasare joins McQuade in pulling down 4.5 boards per game. Donisha Watson adds a team-high five blocks and Kelly Van Leeuwen has a team-best seven assists. The squad is shooting 38.2 percent (47-of-123) from the field through two games and hitting just 47.8 percent (11-for-23) at the charity stripe. Opponents are outrebounding Niagara, 92-76.
This will be the 38th meeting between the local teams. With a win last season, the Bulls hold a 19-18 edge over the Purple Eagles, most recently picking up a 78-70 victory on Dec. 21, 2013. UB won the inaugural meeting, 39-34, during the 1968-69 season. NU won 15 straight from 1976-77 to 1993-94, though UB has claimed nine consecutive from 2005-06 through 2013-14. The last time NU topped UB was a 69-65 overtime win on Dec. 11, 2004.
Fans who aren't able to make it to Alumni Arena can listen in on ESPN 1520 AM, with Sloane Martin on the call. The game will also air live on ESPN3 as part of the ESPN University Production Initiative. Sal Capaccio and Amy Audibert will be on the call.
