14-9, 7-5MAC
Kent State
4-19, 2-10MAC
UB Women's Basketball Snags 59-57 Win Over Kent State
2/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo, State University of New York women's basketball team held off visiting Kent State, 59-57, in Mid-American Conference action Wednesday at Alumni Arena.
The Bulls (15-9, 8-5 MAC) used stingy second-half defense and a full-court press to force the Golden Flashes (4-20, 2-11 MAC) to commit 17 turnovers in the latter half. Junior Karin Moss made six of her career-high seven steals in final 20.
For the fourth time this season, UB overcame a nine-point halftime deficit and battled back to win, while picking up its fifth straight home victory.
"No records matter in February," said third-year head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "In the Mid-American Conference, (February) is about go time and who is going to have resiliency for the longest period of time.
"I thought our team came out and played as hard as they could. I'm really proud of this team. I know they're getting it, and that we're on our way somewhere special."
Kent State shot 51.9 percent in the first, highlighted by a 13-1 run, and held a 33-24 gap at intermission. The Golden Flashes led by as many as 13, 27-14, at 4:23. It marks the second time this season, the first coming on Dec. 15 against St. Bonaventure, that the Bulls have battled from a 13-point deficit to win.
Sophomore Alexus Malone & junior Mackenzie Loesing hit back-to-back buckets to open the second and cut within five. It was the start of a 13-3 UB streak that led to UB's first gap of the game, 37-36, at 14:56. The lead changed eight times over the next seven minutes with the game being tied for the final time, 50-50, at 6:51. Senior Ayana Bradley, who was 2-for-2 from the floor, scored the first of UB's seven straight that led to its largest lead of the game at 4:13. Kent State made it a two-point game two minutes later, but the Bulls hit two free throws to secure a 59-55 edge with 18 ticks lingering in the game. The Flashes' leading scorer, CiCi Shannon, had a put-back with four seconds left in the game to finalize all scoring.
Loesing led the Bulls for the seventh time this season with a game-best 19 points. Malone added 12 and a Bull-best seven boards. Senior Kristen Sharkey tallied nine points and Moss chipped in eight. She posted career numbers with seven steals and five assists, with her steals ranking tied for the fifth most in a single game in program history. Bradley grabbed six boards in 16 minutes of action.
Kent State's Shannon tallied a double-double with a 13-point, 10-rebound showing. Jordan Korinek added 10 points, while three others scored eight. Mikell Chinn recorded seven assists and three steals.
The Golden Flashes led rebounding, 38-35, and shot 48.9 percent from the floor to UB's 36.5 percent. The Bulls, who picked up 28 points off KSU turnovers, hit just 19-of-38 from the charity stripe.
Though the Bulls won their sixth straight against KSU, the visiting squad owns a 26-9 advantage in the series history. The Blue & White has won six of its last seven games in 2015.
UB will host its second-to-last regular-season home game taking on the RedHawks of Miami (OH) Saturday at 2 pm. The game will double as UB's Play 4 Kay game. Fans are encouraged to join the Bulls in wearing pink.
