15-10, 8-6MAC
Miami (OH)
5-20, 2-12MAC
Season-Best Shooting Leads Miami (OH) Past UB, 78-68
2/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo, State University of New York women's basketball team suffered a 78-68 setback to Miami (OH) Saturday afternoon at Alumni Arena during its Play 4 Kay game.
The Bulls (15-10, 8-6 MAC) battled from a late 15-point deficit to cut within four of the RedHawks (5-20, 2-12 MAC) with 51 seconds on the clock, but Miami was perfect at the line down the stretch to secure the victory.
Miami, who had four players score 16 or more points, shot 80.0 percent from the arc for the game, highlighted by a 5-for-5 second-half performance. The RedHawks managed their second-highest scoring output of the year on a season-best 52.0 percent shooting. They posted 82 against Valparaiso on Dec. 3 when they hit a season-high 14 threes. Miami entered today's game averaging just 53.8 points.
UB's largest lead of the game was a four-point edge in the first frame. After six ties in 15 minutes of play, Miami drained 10 unanswered to take a 33-23 gap at 2:18. The teams exchanged buckets, before a Mackenzie Loesing steal and fast-break layup at the buzzer made it a 35-27 game at the half.
The Bulls forced Miami to commit 14 of their 22 turnovers in the latter 20. Trailing 68-53 with 3:15 left in the game, UB's full-court press resulted in four consecutive failed Miami possessions and a 10-0 run for the Bulls. UB snuck within four on an Alexus Malone layup, but the RedHawks went 8-for-8 at the line to clinch the win.
Senior Christa Baccas scored 12 and added 11 boards for her fourth double-double of the year. With her performance, she became just the fifth Bull in program history to tally 800 points (802) and rebounds (844). She also swatted away four blocks and snagged three steals.
Loesing led the game with 25 points, her third 20-point showing of the season, and chipped in a game- and season-best four steals. Rookie Stephanie Reid scored nine to go with a game-high five assists. Senior Kristen Sharkey recorded eight points, eight rebounds and four assists. UB shot better than 40 percent from the floor for the 10th time this season, with a 41.7 percent outing.
Kayla Brown and Baleigh Reid each scored 18 for Miami. Ana Richter added 17 and a team-high eight boards, while Courtney Larson chipped in 16. Hannah McCue had four steals and three RedHawks tallied a trio of assists.
Miami, who leads the series 19-13, snapped UB's four-game steak against the RedHawks.
The Bulls, who have won six of their last eight, return to action on Wednesday with a 7 pm game at Ohio.
