Looking To Extend Their Winning Streak, Bulls Host Miami (OH) Saturday
2/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo, State University of New York women's basketball team will host Mid-American Conference opponent Miami (OH) Saturday Afternoon. The Bulls (15-9, 8-5 MAC) and the RedHawks (4-20, 1-12 MAC) will meet for the 32nd time with a 2 pm contest in Alumni Arena.
The RedHawks lead the Bulls, 18-13, in the all-time series dating back to 1998-99. UB, who has won four straight and five of the last six, claimed an 87-81 overtime victory in the inaugural matchup. Miami won eight of nine games from 2007-08 to 2011-12. The Bulls defeated Miami, 71-51, in Oxford on Jan. 10.
Having won six of their last seven contests, the Bulls are a near flawless 8-1 during Saturday games this season. UB has a field goal percentage of 36.8, a three-point showing of 25.2 and a free throw percentage of 64.8. UB, who leads the MAC in steals (11.5) and offensive rebounds (16.0) per game, is averaging 63.8 points and 42.5 boards per game. Senior Kristen Sharkey paces UB with 14.8 points per outing to go with 8.0 boards and 41 steals, while shooting a team-best 76.1 percent at the line. Junior Mackenzie Loesing is averaging 13.1 points per game and has 33 threes on the year. Sophomore Alexus Malone is posting 11.0 points and 8.0 rebounds a contest. She has seven double-doubles and chips in 39 assists and a Bull-best 43 steals. Senior Christa Baccas is contributing 7.9 points per game to help guide the balanced UB offense. She pulls down a Bull-best 8.2 boards per contest, highlighted by a MAC-high 3.8 offensive boards per game. Ranking second all-time at UB and 13th nationally among active Division I student-athletes with 229 blocks, Baccas has 41 to sit second in the conference this season. Junior Karin Moss has dished out a Bull-best 44 assists and freshman Stephanie Reid adds 34 over 11 games.
The RedHawks trail the MAC standings at just 1-12 on the year. Miami's lone MAC victory was a 69-53 win at Kent State on Feb. 11. They opened conference play with 10 straight losses. Miami is shooting 35.0 percent from the floor, 26.9 percent from the arc and 70.0 percent at the line. Their opponents are outscoring them, 65.0-53.8, though the RedHawks own a 38.6-38.5 edge on the boards. Miami's 11-woman roster features seven freshmen and sophomores.
The game will air on ESPN 1520 AM with Sloane Martin on the call, while a live ESPN3 broadcast 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.
