Looking For A Big 4 Sweep, UB Visits Canisius Monday At 7 pm
12/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Buffalo at Canisius Game Notes
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo, the State University of New York women's basketball team is looking to sweep Big 4 play when it travels to Canisius Monday. The 7 pm game will conclude the Bulls' non-conference schedule.
The local rivalry will see its 42nd edition with Canisius carrying a 30-11 series advantage dating back to 1970-71. The Griffs won 15 straight from 1978-79 to 1991-92 and seven consecutive from 2003-04 to 2009-10, though the Bulls have claimed three of the last four, most recently defeating Canisius, 68-59, on Dec. 27, 2013 at Alumni Arena.
The Bulls, who have won four of their last five, defeated Big 4 teams Niagara, 73-64, and St. Bonaventure, 51-44, earlier this season. For the year, UB has a field goal percentage of 36.2 and a free throw percentage of 67.7. The Bulls, who lead the Mid-American Conference in blocked shots (44, 4.4/g) and steals (126, 12.6/g), are averaging 66.7 points and 43.0 boards per game. With six double-doubles, sophomore Alexus Malone is posting 12.8 points and 9.9 rebounds a contest. Her double-doubles lead the MAC, while her rebounding (9.9/gm) and defensive rebounding (7.1/gm) rank second in the league. Junior Mackenzie Loesing is averaging 12.2 points per contest. Senior captains Kristen Sharkey and Christa Baccas are contributing 10.8 and 9.7 points, respectively, with redshirt-sophomore Rachael Gregory chipping in 8.8 to help guide the balanced UB offense. Sharkey paces UB and ranks second in the MAC with 2.5 steals per game. Malone had dished out a team-high 22 assists. Sophomore Camera Miley adds 20 and junior Karin Moss 19. Baccas, who ranks second all-time at UB with 202 blocks, has 14 in six games of play and pulls down 7.5 boards per contest.
The Griffs opened their season with three consecutive losses and have suffered another three straight since picking up four wins in a row. Canisius' victories have come against Saint Francis (PA), Manhattan, Saint Peter's and Binghamton. UB has also tallied wins against the Red Storm and the Jaspers this season. Opponents are outscoring Canisius by six points a game, 66.9-60.9, and outrebounding the Golden Griffins, 39.7-33.1. Canisius is shooting 40.9 percent from the field and 66.3 percent at the free throw line. Eight of the Griffs' 12 student-athletes are shooting 40.0 percent or better from the field, led by Tiahana Mills' 48.2 percent (41-of-85) showing. Kayla Hoohuli is averaging 11.2 points per game, Mills 11.0 and Crystal Porter 10.0. Porter contributes team-bests of 5.7 rebounds per outing and 14 blocks. Hoohuli has 20 steals on the season, while Mills leads the team with 26 assists.
The game will air on Time Warner Cable Sports Net and ESPN 1520 AM with Sloane Martin on the call, while a webcast on the Golden Griffin Broadcast Network is available for a fee. Fans can also follow along with live stats or live tweets.
