Central Michigan
Bulls Challenge CMU as Loesing Hits Pair of Career Milestones
1/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MOUNT PLEASANT, MI – Junior Mackenzie Loesing paced The University at Buffalo, State University of New York women's basketball team with 24 points as the Bulls dropped a 66-58 setback to host Central Michigan Wednesday evening at McGuirk Arena. Loesing became the 21st Bull in program history to score 1,000 points and just the fifth to do it during her junior season. She also became the ninth in program history to hit 100 career three pointers. Loesing finished the game with 1,011 career points good for 19th all-time at UB.
The Bulls (7-6, 0-2 MAC) battled the Chippewas (7-6, 2-0 MAC) forcing the lead to change eight times, seven of which came in the first half. UB owned a 31-30 edge at intermission, but CMU used an 8-0 run in the second to secure an indefinite lead. The Bulls made it a one-possession game four times in the final 5:31, lastly pulling within 59-56 at 1:25. The Chippewas connected on seven at the line, while UB went 0-for-6 from the floor in the final 1:11 of play, to secure the victory.
"I'd like to congratulate Mackenzie Loesing on reaching a milestone – going over 1,000 points today on the road," praised head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "It's bittersweet because we certainly would have liked to have won this game. We faced a tough opponent. Our hope is that we get to play them again this season – in a special place – at a special time."
Central Michigan's Jas'Mine Bracey opened the game with four straight layups resulting in an 8-0 cushion for the Chippewas. Loesing scored UB's first seven points to cut into its deficit before redshirt-sophomore Rachael Gregory made it a one-point game, 10-9, at the 14-minute mark. The game bounced back-and-forth before the Bulls secured their largest lead of the night, 28-24, at 5:42. Central inched ahead 30-29 on a Crystal Bradford jumper at 1:06, but an Alexus Malone steal and fast-break layup awarded the Bulls the advantage at the break.
Senior captain Kristen Sharkey grabbed an offensive board and got the put-back to open the second. Central tied the game thrice more, but UB kept answering. It held its final lead, 39-37, at 15:30 with a Sharkey layup on an assist from junior Karin Moss. The Chippewas answered with eight straight. They surged to take an eight-point lead at 9:24, but not to be outdone, Loesing hit back-to-back threes and Sharkey added a layup to piece together an 8-2 UB streak. Despite being held to just one field goal in the final 9:23 of the game, CMU shot 77.3 percent at the line to seal the win. The Chippewas scored their final 11 points at the line. They were 17-for-22 at the charity stripe, all 22 of which were taken in the latter half.
Loesing hit a season-best four three pointers en route to her 24-point performance. Sharkey added 16 and Gregory and Malone chipped in seven apiece. Gregory grabbed a season-best 12 rebounds and had a career-high four assists. Baccas pulled down 10 boards and had a pair of blocks. Three Bulls made a trio of steals.
Bradford led the game with 28 points and 12 boards. Bracey added 22 points and Da'Jourie Turner tallied 10.
The Chippewas committed 19 turnovers to UB's 16 and the Bulls made 13 steals to CMU's 11. Central hit 40.0 percent of all shots, despite a dismal 1-for-17 showing at the arc. The Bulls connected 30.6 percent on the night. CMU controlled the boards, 52-40.
The Bulls have a knack for setting milestones at McGuirk Arena. On Jan. 26, 2011 Kourtney Brown became UB's all-time leading scorer and rebounder as the Bulls defeated Central Michigan, 92-89. In addition to Brown's accolades, Jessica Fortman also became the 19th member of the 1,000-point club.
CMU, who was picked to win the MAC West and the MAC Tournament, improved its all-time series record to 10-8, winning its sixth straight against The Bulls. UB was picked to win the MAC East.
The Bulls will play their 10th road game of the season on Saturday with a 3 pm tip at Miami (OH).
