University at Buffalo
13-8, 6-4MAC
Ohio
8-13, 3-7MAC
Late Run Boosts Bulls
2/6/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY - A stout defensive effort helped to cover for a slow offense by the Buffalo women's basketball team Wednesday afternoon, as the Bulls (13-8, 6-4 MAC) downed the Ohio Bobcats (8-13, 3-7 MAC) 55-43. Alexus Malone pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds and Mackenzie Loesing would lead all scorers with 18 points in the important Mid-American Conference win.
The 43 points allowed was a season-best for the defense, and the 25 percent allowed from the field was also the team's best through 21 games. For the ninth time this season, the Bulls would force more turnovers (16) than field goals allowed (14). The gaudy numbers were thanks in large part to an improved perimeter defense and sound rebounding that was keyed by Malone. After allowing Akron to make 60 percent of threes (12-20) in the loss Sunday, Ohio would hit just 3-19.
Neither team was able to generate offense in the opening half, combining to shoot 17-59 with long scoreless stretches. With the Bulls ahead 6-3 just over two minutes in, the UB offense would go without a point for the next eight minutes. Ohio would not take advantage, though, and led just 11-6 before a Loesing jumper snapped the drought.
At halftime, the Bobcats would hold a 20-18 lead, marking just the sixth time that UB trailed at intermission (with a 1-4 record in the previous five games trailing at the half). The offense would come alive in the second half, though, thanks to the trio of Malone, Loesing, and Margeaux Gupilan.
All three of them would score eight points in the second half, outscoring the entire Ohio team 24-23 over the final 20 minutes. It would not come as easily as the final score would indicate, as Ohio's defense was strong in its own right. Four straight points out of the break would give Ohio a 24-18 lead, but the Bulls would respond with a 14-1 run from the 18:32 mark until 13:12 remained. The lead would wax and wane around five points until seven minutes remained, when Ohio would start a 7-2 run to go ahead 43-42 with 4:23 to play.
Christa Baccas hit a layup to swing the lead back into UB's favor, and Loesing would hit her lone three of the game and then made a steal on the ensuing possession to seal the victory. A key factor in the win would come in the paint, where Buffalo would out score Ohio 34-20.
With the win, the Bulls are now 7-2 at Alumni Arena, tied for the most home wins in a season since 2010-11 and the second most since 2002-03. It was an important win for the team, which is now fourth overall in the MAC and third in the East division.
Next up will be a challenging road trip out to Mount Pleasant, MI, with a return trip to take on Central Michigan on Sunday afternoon. The Chippewas are currently undefeated in conference play, and won 82-68 in Alumni Arena on Jan. 12. Tip time is scheduled for 2 pm.
