Bulls Tip Off 2015 With MAC Opener Saturday Against Ohio
1/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo, State University of New York women's basketball team will tip off 2015 and Mid-American Conference play hosting Ohio Saturday at 1 pm at Alumni Arena.
The Bulls (7-4), who return home after playing seven of their last eight games on the road, own a 16-13 edge in the all-time series against the Bobcats. Ohio claimed the last meeting, 83-71, on Feb. 27, 2014 to snap a four-game UB winning streak. The Bulls won the inaugural MAC matchup, 73-71, on Feb. 6, 1999 at Ohio.
For the year, UB has a field goal percentage of 36.6 and a free throw percentage of 68.3. The Bulls are averaging 67.2 points and 43.2 boards per game and have three scoring 12.0 or more per outing. With six double-doubles, sophomore Alexus Malone is posting 12.5 points and 9.4 rebounds a contest. Junior Mackenzie Loesing and senior Kristen Sharkey add 12.3 and 12.2 points per game, respectively. Senior Christa Baccas is contributing 9.4 and redshirt-sophomore Rachael Gregory 8.5 to help guide the balanced UB offense. With 25 on the season, Sharkey leads UB and sits second in the MAC with 2.3 steals per game. Malone has a team-high 23 assists, while sophomore Camera Miley and junior Karin Moss chip in 22 and 21, respectively. Baccas has 17 blocks in seven games of play. UB has a league-leading 48 blocks and 133 steals.
The Bobcats are looking for their 10th win of the season, having dropped just two contests in back-to-back outings against East Carolina and James Madison. Ohio, who has only played four games away from Athens, opened the season with six straight victories. It has added another trio with victories over La Salle and Massachusetts at the Georgia State Tournament and most recently a 71-64 win against Cleveland State. Ohio, who paces the MAC in four categories, is shooting 41.9 percent from the floor and 67.7 percent at the charity stripe. The Bobcats are handedly outscoring opponents, 75.9-58.3 and hold a 39.2-38.9 edge in rebounding. With the same five starters for all 11 games, Ohio is led by Kiyanna Black averaging 15.5 points per game to rank sixth in the MAC. She also leads the team with 21 steals. Quiera Lampkins contributes 14.0 to go with a Bobcat-best 7.5 rebounds per contest and Lexie Baldwin adds 11.1 and 6.2, respectively. Kat Yelle has dished out 34 assists, while two teammates add 31 apiece. In eight games, Kelly Karlis has tallied 17 blocks.
The game will air on ESPN 1520 AM with Sloane Martin on the call, while a live ESPN3 webcast will be available. Fans can also follow along with live stats or live tweets.
ESPN3 is available at no additional cost to fans who receive ESPN as part of their TV subscription through participating TV providers. ESPN3 is also available at no cost to US college students and US-based military personnel on computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks.
