9-7, 2-3MAC
Ball State
8-8, 4-1MAC
Sharkey Hits 1,000 as UB Overpowers Ball State, 53-43
1/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo, State University of New York women's basketball team blanked MAC-leader Ball State, 53-43, Saturday afternoon at Alumni Arena. The Bulls (9-7, 2-3 MAC) held the Cardinals (8-8, 4-1 MAC) to a season-low 13-point output in the second half in the come-from-behind win.
"This is us, this is who we are," praised third-year head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "We have faced adversity this season, but we've decided that we want to own our own power. Today we did that."
Kristen Sharkey posted her 19th career double-double, and fourth of the season, putting up 17 points and 13 boards en route to 1,000 points. Fittingly, the senior captain who ranks fourth in program history with a .773 free throw percentage, met the milestone at the line just 3:37 into the game. It gave the Bulls their largest lead of the first, 7-2.
UB, who snapped Ball State's four-game winning streak, trailed 30-28 at the half. The first frame featured six ties, while the lead flip-flopped thrice to open the second half. Sophomore Alexus Malone hit back-to-back threes to tip off UB's offensive output.
The Cardinals' final lead was a one-point edge, 39-38, at 9:20. They were held to just four free throws the rest of the game. BSU shot a cold 3-for-24 in the second stint. UB went on a 10-0 run, while Ball State was held scoreless over a seven-minute span. The Bulls outscored the Cardinals, 5-4, down the stretch securing the double-digit win.
UB held Ball State below 20 points in a half for the third time this season. Joining the Bulls in doing so are Butler (17) and Pittsburgh (19).
Malone matched Sharkey with 13 rebounds and senior Christa Baccas added 12 as UB dominated the boards, 58-42. It was Baccas' fourth straight 10-rebound game. Junior Mackenzie Loesing, who was honored pregame for becoming the fifth junior in program history to score 1,000 points, tallied 10 on the day. Malone added eight. Senior Ayana Bradley made a career-high four steals in just 17 minutes on the hardwood. She added four points and five boards. Baccas chipped in a trio of steals.
"Ball State is an unbelievably special team coached by a great coach – but it wasn't about them today. It was about our team, our journey, our power that we decided we were going to own," concluded Legette-Jack.
Ball State's Nathalie Fontaine had a game-high 15 boards to go with 10 points. Jill Morrison tallied eight points and a game-high three assists. Ball State committed 18 turnovers, five of which were charges drawn by the Bulls.
The teams were a combined 28-of-119 from the floor with the Bulls shooting .242 percent and the Cardinals .226 percent, season-low performances for both squads.
The Cardinals continue to lead the series, 12-9, though today's win was UB's fifth in the last seven meetings. Ball State ended the Bulls' 2013-14 season in the third round of the MAC Tournament with a 74-60 margin.
The Bulls hit the road again for a 7 pm game Wednesday, Jan. 21 at Toledo.
