University at Buffalo
17-12, 10-8MAC
Kent State
7-22, 4-14MAC
Bulls Clinch Fourth Seed With Win Over Kent State
3/8/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY - The UB women's basketball team sent out its three-member senior class in style Saturday afternoon, beating Kent State 64-51 to clinch the fourth overall seed in the Mid-American Conference tournament, the program's highest seed ever. The team ends the 2013-14 regular season with a 17-12 overall record and 10-8 in the MAC. It is the most wins in a season since 2003 and the most conference wins since 2001.
Kristen Sharkey led the team with 17 points, while the defense forced 27 turnovers that would directly lead to 26 points on the other end, 16 on fast breaks.
The Flashes (7-22, 4-14 MAC) opened the game with a three at the 19:13 mark, but the Buffalo defense would hold them without a field goal for the next nine minutes while the offense went on a 12-1 run to take a lead it would never get back. The first half run was dictated by Sharkey, who would hit the team's first three baskets of the game and would account for 13 points in the first half on 6-8 shooting. Both offenses would slump through the opening 20 minutes, with the Bulls owning just a 23-19 lead at the break.
The team would support Sharkey with a handful of big halves as the Bulls were able to pull away for the eventual double-digit win. Alexus Malone, Christa Baccas, Karin Moss and Mackenzie Loesing all scored seven points or more in the second half as the Bulls would match its first-half scoring output with eight minutes still to go in the game. Loesing would lead the team in the half with 12 points on an efficient 5-5 performance on two-point field goals after struggling to an 0-6 day in the first half.
Aside from the opening three minutes of the second half, the Flashes would get no closer than four points, while the Buffalo lead would grow to as high as 16 points. The team would sub out the two active seniors - Margeaux Gupilan and Jenna Rickan - with 1:41 left on the clock to a standing ovation with the team ahead by 15.
For the eleventh time this season, the UB defense would force more turnovers than field goals allowed. The Flashes would commit 27 turnovers and made just 16 field goals, while the Bulls would make 13 steals that was headed up by a career-high five steals from Sharkey.
The junior forward would add eight rebounds and a block to go with those five steals, and hit 8-12 shots on the way to her 17 points. She ends the regular season with 430 points, the 13th most in a single season in program history. Loesing, who wound up with 16 in the game, now has 463 points this season. That puts her in ninth place in the record book.
After needing to win a pair of games to make the third round of the MAC tournament last season, the Bulls will get a much-needed bye to the third round after clinching the fourth overall seed. The team will play either the fifth, eighth, ninth, or twelfth seed Thursday at noon at Quicken Loans Arena. Stay tuned to UBBulls.com for updated matchups and final seeding.
