9-8, 2-4MAC
Northern Illinois
6-9, 2-3MAC
Strong Second Half Propels UB to 47-43 Win Over NIU
1/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo, State University of New York women's basketball team shot 47.8 percent in the second half to defeat Northern Illinois in come-from-behind fashion, 47-43, Saturday afternoon at Alumni Arena. The win was UB's sixth straight over Northern.
The Bulls (10-8, 3-4 MAC) were held to a season-low 11 first-half points on 4-for-26 shooting as the Huskies (6-10, 2-4 MAC) secured a 20-11 halftime gap. UB answered to tally its second victory of the season following a nine-point halftime deficit.
"What a tough game we played today – that's what you call an ugly win," said third-year head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "Northern Illinois did a tremendous job of forcing us to play ugly, their defense is tenacious."
The Bulls opened the second with a 14-2 run that ate up eight minutes of clock and secured UB the lead for good. UB led by as many as six, 35-29, at 8:40, but the Huskies made it a two-point game on five occasions down the stretch, lastly with 24 ticks on the clock. NIU picked up a steal off the Bulls' baseline inbound, but a monster block by senior captain Christa Baccas led to a fast break Ayana Bradley layup that sealed UB the victory.
"I thought that (Kristen) Sharkey did a tremendous job of being patient on the block, dribbling out and seeing the cutters as they come through. We were able to offset their great defense with a pretty good offensive performance today," Legette-Jack said.
Senior captain Kristen Sharkey led the Bulls for the sixth time this season with an 18-point performance. Her offensive output moved her into 18th all-time at UB with 1,053 career points. She chipped in seven boards, while Baccas and freshman Stephanie Reid led the Bulls with eight each, a season-high for Reid. The pair also paced UB with four assists each. Baccas and Bradley added seven points apiece with Baccas tallying three blocks in 40 minutes of play. Reid and Bradley each made a pair of steals.
Ally Lehman led Northern with 10 points and four steals. Kelly Smith and Amanda Corral added eight points each with Corral grabbing a contest-best 10 boards. The Huskies have lost four of their last five games.
UB led the rebounding margin, 43-36, though the Huskies converted 32.7 percent of their shots to the Bulls' 30.6 percent.
The Bulls, who have a mid-week MAC bye, will return to the hardwood on Saturday, Jan. 31 with a 2:30 pm tip at Eastern Michigan.
