UB Women's Basketball Team Travels to Ohio for Key MAC Matchup
2/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ATHENS, OH – The University at Buffalo, State University of New York women's basketball team travels to Ohio for a key Mid-American Conference contest Wednesday. The Bulls (15-10, 8-6 MAC) and the Bobcats (21-4, 12-2 MAC) will meet for the 31st time with a 7 pm game at the Convention Center.
The Bulls own a 16-14 edge in the all-time series against the Bobcats. Ohio claimed the most recent two meetings to snap a four-game UB winning streak. The Bulls won the inaugural MAC matchup, 73-71, on Feb. 6, 1999 at Ohio, while the Bobcats defeated UB, 61-50, in the MAC opener on Jan. 3.
Having won six of their last eight contests, the Bulls are shooting 37.0 percent from field-goal range, 24.8 percent from three-point land and 64.8 percent from the charity stripe. UB, who leads the MAC in steals (11.5) and offensive rebounds (16.0) per game, is averaging 64.0 points and 42.1 boards per game, leading its opponents in both. Senior Kristen Sharkey paces UB with 14.5 points per outing to go with 8.0 boards and 42 steals, while shooting a team-best 75.7 percent at the line. Junior Mackenzie Loesing is averaging 13.7 points per game and has 34 threes on the year. Sophomore Alexus Malone is posting 10.8 points and 7.8 rebounds a contest. She has seven double-doubles and chips in 39 assists and a Bull-best 44 steals. Senior Christa Baccas is contributing 8.0 points per game to help guide the balanced UB offense. She pulls down a Bull-best 8.3 boards per contest, highlighted by a MAC-high 3.7 offensive boards per game. Ranking second all-time at UB and 13th nationally among active Division I student-athletes with 233 blocks, Baccas has 45 to sit second in the conference this season. Junior Karin Moss has dished out a Bull-best 46 assists and freshman Stephanie Reid adds 39 over 12 games.
The league-leading Bobcats have won 11 of their last 12 games and are 12-2 in conference action. Their lone MAC losses have come to Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan. Ohio, who has started the same lineup all season, won 10 consecutive between the two and went 10-2 in non-conference play. On the season, Ohio leads the conference in scoring margin, three pointers made, three-point percentage, three-point percentage defense, field goal percentage defense and turnover margin. The Bobcats are outscoring opponents, 70.6-56.1, while marginally outrebounding them, 38.4-38.1. They are converting 41.3 percent of field goals, 34.8 percent of threes and 65.8 percent of free throws.
The game will air live on ESPN 1520 AM with Sloane Martin on the call, while a live webcast will be available. Fans can also follow along with live stats or live tweets.
