University at Buffalo
2-1
Niagara
0-3
Second-Half Surge Lifts Bulls Over Niagara, 73-64, in Big-Four Game
11/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The State University of New York, Buffalo women's basketball team put up 46 second-half points to defeat visiting Niagara 73-64 Saturday afternoon at Alumni Arena. The win was UB's (2-1) 10th straight over the Purple Eagles (0-3).
"A great team effort," said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "I thought the first half, they (Niagara) owned the court. In the second half, we did a great job of coming together, playing for each other... We did a tremendous job of earning the right to win."
Trailing NU 36-27 at the half, the Bulls looked to pull away with a 19-4 streak over the course of 7:11 to open the second. Niagara answered with a run of its own, while holding UB scoreless for four minutes. NU regained the advantage, 51-46 at 8:58, with 11 straight.
Redshirt-sophomore Rachael Gregory and junior Mackenzie Loesing combined to score 21 of the Bulls' final 27 points. Gregory tallied all 12 of her points, 10 of which came on 10-for-12 shooting at the charity stripe, over the final 7:34 of play. Loesing, who also went 10-for-12 at the line, recorded nine of her team-best 18 down the stretch. Her 18 points brought her to an even 900 for her career.
Loesing drained a three on an Alexus Malone assist in the midst of a 13-0 UB run that secured the Bulls an infinite lead. UB took its largest lead of the game, 72-62, with 25 ticks lingering on the clock.
NU led by as many as 11 at the four-minute mark of the first. After a slow start to the contest that featured a combined 24 points in the first 10 minutes, Niagara grabbed a 9-7 edge at 14:42 -- an advantage that remained for the remainder of the period.
Malone, a sophomore, secured another spot on the all-time single-season rebounding list with a 17-board performance. Rewriting her previous career-high of 16, the 17 rebounds rank tied for eighth in program history. Malone added 15 points for her second straight double-double, and dished out three assists. Gregory also secured her second double-double in as many games with a 12-point, 10 rebound performance.
Loesing had a season- and game-best four steals. Sophomore Camera Miley tallied nine points and senior Kristen Sharkey pulled down nine boards to help the Bulls to their second consecutive 60-rebound game. UB outrebounded the Purple Eagles, 60-45.
Led by Meghan McGuinness' 22 points, Niagara shot 33.3 percent from the floor to UB's 28.4 percent performance. Sylvia Maxwell added 16 and Val McQuade 11. Donisha Watson had a team-best 12 rebounds and two blocks.
The Bulls, who shot a season-high 74.4 percent (29-for-39) from the free throw line, lead the all-time series, 20-18, dating back to the 1968-69 season.
UB travels south to seventh-ranked Duke on Tuesday for a 6:30 pm tip at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
