6-3
Manhattan
1-9
UB Women's Basketball Powers to Fourth Straight Win Defeating Manhattan 68-58
12/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
RIVERDALE, NY – The University at Buffalo, State University of New York women's basketball team picked up its fourth straight win defeating host Manhattan, 68-58, Friday night at Draddy Gymnasium.
The Bulls (6-3) handed the Jaspers (1-9) their eighth straight loss and improved to 2-0 all-time against Manhattan. UB matched a season-best 10-point lead at intermission, 27-17, and maintained a steady cushion throughout the second, despite Manhattan bettering its shooting by nearly 40 percent in the latter half.
"It was exciting to get our fourth straight win together," said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "We are learning how to win even when we're in tough situations. Defensively, we are creating opportunities."
The Bulls led for 37 minutes and the game was deadlocked for 2:34. Manhattan's lone lead came at 14:33 of the first and lasted for just 25 seconds.
It was a one-possession game for the first 10 minutes of play. UB inched ahead to lead 17-11 at 4:53, but Manhattan twice made it a two-point game at the foul line. The Bulls closed out the half on an 8-0 run, while holding the Jaspers without a field goal over the final 7:21.
The Bulls used a 12-2 second-half streak to secure its largest lead of the season, 53-34, at the eight-minute mark. Manhattan, who shot a cold 8.3 percent from the three in the first, drained five straight treys as they pieced together a 17-7 run making it 57-48 at 4:29. But that's as close as the Jaspers would get. The Blue & White went on to outlast the host squad, 68-58. The 10-point win was UB's largest margin of victory this season.
"Every time we go out there, someone steps up. Tonight Joanna Smith was the x-factor for us," praised Legette-Jack.
Smith nearly doubled her previous career-high of 10, putting up 18 on 6-for-12 shooting. She added a career-best four steals, while four of her teammates chipped in two or more. The Bulls swiped a season-high 17 and tallied 17 points off of Manhattan turnovers.
Mirroring its season statistics, UB had five with nine or more points. Sophomore Alexus Malone had 13 and a game-high 11 rebounds for her sixth double-double this season. Junior Mackenzie Loesing also recorded 13 on 5-for-11 shooting. Senior Christa Baccas and redshirt-sophomore Rachael Gregory each scored nine. Smith and Malone both dished out a trio of assists.
Manhattan's Nyasha Irizarry, who shot 4-for-8 from three-point land, scored a team-high 16 points and added five assists. Kayla Grimme flirted with a double-double scoring 10 points to go with nine boards. Manhattan was perfect from the line, 12-for-12, on the night.
The Jaspers edged UB, 38-37, in rebounding, though led the turnover count, 23-17. UB shot 41.7 percent from the floor for the game to the Jaspers' 33.9 percent.
Having played just one home game in its last six outings, UB remains in NYC to take on LIU-Brooklyn Sunday at 1 pm. The Bulls will conclude non-conference play Monday, Dec. 29 at cross-town Big 4 rival Canisius.
