1-0
LIU-Brooklyn
0-1
Stifling Defense Leads UB To Season-Opening Victory
11/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York women's basketball team forced 31 turnovers on Saturday afternoon, defeating LIU-Brooklyn in their season-opener, 55-38. The 38 points allowed are the fewest by the Bulls since Feb. 23, 2013 against Ohio.
Hitting a pair of free throws to start the game, LIU-Brooklyn led in the contest for all of 19 seconds before a made layup and a Joanna Smith three pointer got the Bulls the lead for good. UB outscored the Blackbird 20-9 in the first quarter using a 13-0 run, which included a pair of Smith three pointers and one from sophomore Katherine Ups.
LIU-Brooklyn scored the first 10 points of the second quarter to cut the UB lead to just a single point, but freshman Gabe Bade responded with a big three pointer, for UB's first points of the quarter. The Blackbirds cut it back within 26-23 with 2:30 left, but the Bulls ended the half on a 6-0 run to take a 32-23 lead into the break.
Smith opened the second half with a three pointer to put the Bulls back ahead by double figures and a fast-break layup from Bade pushed the lead to 41-27 with 5:21 left. LIU-Brooklyn cut it back within 41-34, but the Bulls ended the quarter strong as freshman Mirte Scheper grabbed an offensive rebound and was able to complete a three-point play with .01 seconds left on the clock, giving UB the 44-34 edge through three quarters.
UB turned up the defensive energy in the fourth quarter as LIU-Brooklyn scored just four total points in the final quarter and none in the final 5:46 of action. Two late free throws by Katherine Ups gave UB its largest lead of the game at 17, which turned out to be the final margin of victory.
"This game was a good example of who we are going to be this year," said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "We are going to defend the ball, and if we can recognize that is who we are going to be, than the offense is going to come along."
Smith led the way with a game-high 15 points, while Katherine Ups added eight points, four rebounds and three steals. Sophomore Mariah Suchan had eight points off the bench, while Scheper added seven points and four rebounds.
Sophomore Stephanie Reid finished with six points, six assists, three rebounds, a block and five steals and Bade added five points and three assists.
LIU-Brooklyn committed 31 turnovers for the game, while recording just three assists. The two teams combined for 29 steals in the contest. The Bulls also held the blackbirds empty from three-point range as LIU-Brooklyn went 0-of-14 from behind the arc.
The Bulls remain home on Tuesday evening when they host Big 4 Rival Canisius at Alumni Arena. Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm.
