3-3
Illinois St.
0-6
UB Posts 68-60 Win over Illinois State to Cap Miami Thanksgiving Tournament Play
11/29/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
CORAL GABLES, FL – The State University of New York, Buffalo women's basketball team (3-3) outlasted Illinois State (0-6) to pick up a 68-60 victory Saturday at the Miami (FL) Thanksgiving Tournament at the Bank United Center.
Senior captain Kristen Sharkey, who posted 30 points, nine rebounds and five steals against the Redbirds, was named to the all-tournament team. She was six points shy of her career-high that she tallied on Jan. 27 against Ball State. That was the last time UB had a player drop 30. For the tournament, Sharkey averaged 21.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.0 steals, while shooting 51.9 percent from the floor.
"We'll take an ugly win over a pretty loss, and it was an ugly win," stated head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "Today we found a way to fight through it.
"Thank God for Sharkey. We decided that the game was going to be played for their teammate Christa (Baccas), who's been itching at the bit to get back out there. And with those two being captains, Sharkey really did a tremendous job of playing for her."
The game was tied five times with the lead changing six times, all of which occurred in the first 12:21 of action. UB held the Redbirds scoreless over the final 3:30 of the first, while scoring nine unanswered for a 40-30 gap at the break.
Illinois State hit a pair of threes helping the Redbirds cut within four early in the second stint. They maintained their pressure and held UB scoreless over a six-minute span to pull within three, 47-44, at 11:09. Malone swished the next six for UB as the Bulls solidified an infinite two-possession game. Sharkey chipped in another six straight Buffalo points capped off by a Rachael Gregory jumper for an 11-point cushion at 3:22. Neither team hit a field goal in the final three minutes the game. The Bulls swished five free throws down the stretch to uphold their lead.
Sophomore Alexus Malone recorded her second double-double in as many days with a 19-point, 11-rebound performance. Sharkey and Malone were a combined 14-of-15 from the line. Junior Karin Moss had three steals and three assists in 24 minutes on the hardwood. Sophomore Camera Miley scored nine points on 3-for-5 shooting.
The Bulls recorded 12 steals and a season-low 11 turnovers. They shot just 32.9 percent (25-of-76) from the field, but made good on 77.3 percent of their free throws (17-of-22). The Redbirds committed 22 turnovers that resulted in 23 UB points.
Led by Colleene Smith with 13, Illinois State marginally outrebounded UB, 51-48. UB had 22 on the offensive end that led to 28 put-back points. The Redbirds' offense was paced by Octavia Crumps' 19 points. Mackenzie Freeman added 11.
"It was a good team win and it's going to be great to get back to Buffalo," Legette-Jack concluded.
The Bulls return to play on Thursday, Dec. 4 traveling to Cornell at 7 pm for their fourth straight road game.
