4-3
Cornell
3-4
Baccas Returns to Action to Guide Bulls to 65-58 Road Win
12/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ITHACA, NY – The University at Buffalo, State University of New York women's basketball team outscored host Cornell by 11 in the second half to defeat the Big Red 65-58 in come-from-behind fashion Thursday evening at Newman Arena. The Bulls (4-3) shot 58.1 percent (18-31) in the second stint to rewrite an eight-point deficit and secure the lead with 1:41 lingering in the game. UB closed out the contest with eight unanswered en route to its second straight victory.
The Big Red (3-4) owned a 27-23 halftime edge having dominated on the boards in the opening 20, 27-19. In a game that was tied on eight occasions and featured eight lead changes, Cornell held the advantage for 27:44.
"We persevered," said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "This was a fun team to watch in Cornell, but tonight I thought the better team won."
Though Cornell maintained its lead most of the second, the Bulls surged to make it a one-possession game on four occasions. A Christa Baccas steal and a fast break layup knotted the game at 50-50 at 5:55. The teams twice exchanged the lead before Baccas capitalized on a Karin Moss assist for the go-ahead bucket at 1:41. The Big Red committed a turnover on their next possession that led to Moss finding Alexus Malone for a 61-58 UB advantage. Moss made good on a one-and-one opportunity to seal the win with 25 seconds on the clock before Rachael Gregory finalized all scoring with a jumper in the waning seconds of play.
It was a slow start for both squads. Following at 10-10 tie at 12:38, Cornell pieced together an 11-2 run that ate up over eight minutes of clock. UB posted six straight to pull within 26-23 with 40 seconds left in the opening frame. Cornell hit one of its game-high 17 free throws down the stretch for the four-point gap at intermission. UB tallied just five points at the charity stripe shooting a cold 41.7 percent on the night.
"Christa (Baccas) was huge for us tonight," Legette-Jack praised. "I think she's such a great leader. She doesn't say a lot of words, but her actions – the way she points and the way she gets those rebounds and alters shots – it really inspires us to play better."
Baccas posted Bull-best numbers of 16 points and seven rebounds. She and Malone each had a trio of blocks with Malone matching a career-high with six steals. Malone chipped in 11 points and Gregory and Mackenzie Loesing each added 10. Eight of Gregory's 10 came in the latter half. Kristen Sharkey had nine points and five boards in 20 minutes on the hardwood.
Both teams tallied 24 turnovers and 12 steals, though the Bulls shot a season-high 47.5 percent (28-59) from the floor. Cornell, who led all rebounding 45-37, was 32.3 percent for the game.
UB improved its series record against the Big Red to 10-4 all-time. Cornell claimed victories over UB the last two seasons.
The Bulls, who have played four straight road games, take an 11-day hiatus from game play. They return to Alumni Arena on Monday, Dec. 15 to take on Big Four foe St. Bonaventure at 7 pm.
