13-9, 6-5MAC
Central Michigan
15-8, 11-0MAC
Bulls Lose 74-63 to Central Michigan
2/9/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MOUNT PLEASANT, MI – The Buffalo women's basketball team lost on the road at Mid-American Conference leader Central Michigan Sunday afternoon, losing 74-63. The Bulls would play the defending champs tough, but a number of scoreless streaks and a cold day shooting overall would prove costly against one of the top offenses in the nation.
Kristen Sharkey led UB with 21 points, while Christa Baccas would go for 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Bulls played the Chippewas close in the opening half, ultimately trailing just 40-37 at halftime. While the team was able to find holes in the CMU interior, the three-point shooting would be a sore spot for UB. Buffalo would hit just 2-13 attempts from deep, both coming from Karin Moss off the bench as she would provide great minutes off the bench in relief of Margeaux Gupilan. Central Michigan would lead for much of the first half, going up by as much as seven points with under seven minutes to play, but the Bulls were able to weather a pair of scoreless stretches to enter the break down just three.
In the second half, the team was bit by a pair of early droughts in the second half that allowed the Chippewas to command a big lead. A four-minute stretch starting at the 15:47 mark and especially a five-minute run at the 11 minute mark would be costly for the Bulls. Central Michigan would lead by as much as 18 points in the second half before UB would trim the lead back down to 11.
For the game, Buffalo would shoot 34.7 percent, its lowest success rate since the MAC opener at Bowling Green. While the interior offense was solid as usual, the team would hit just 5-28 three pointers, its worst percentage in the conference season when taking more than 10 threes.
While Mackenzie Loesing would struggle from the field, she would have an encouraging day overall, with eight rebounds and four assists with just one turnover committed. Sharkey and Alexus Malone were bright spots on the post, combining to shoot 14-23 with 31 points in the game.
The Bulls will put a bow on cross-divisional play next Saturday, with six days to prepare for a showdown with Northern Illinois. In the previous meeting with the Huskies, UB would win 63-52 in DeKalb. Tip time is scheduled for 2 pm. It will also be the team's Play 4 Kay game, and fans attending are encouraged to wear pink to support the fight against breast cancer.
