15-11 (8-7)
Ohio
22-4 (13-2)
UB Women's Basketball Falls at MAC-Leading Ohio, 78-70
2/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ATHENS, OH – The University at Buffalo, State University of New York women's basketball team suffered a 78-70 Mid-American Conference setback at Ohio Wednesday at the Convocation Center.
The MAC-leading Bobcats (22-4, 13-2 MAC) have won 12 of their last 13 contests, while the Bulls (15-11, 8-7 MAC) dropped their second straight.
Ohio rewrote a one-point UB advantage with a 13-5 run to end the first holding a 31-24 gap. The Bobcats powered to a 21-point lead at 13:44 of the second, but the Bulls battled back. UB pieced together a 20-2 run making it a three-point game at 7:46.
"I thought our ladies played with resiliency," said third-year head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "They played with fight and I'm proud of them."
Ohio's Kiyanna Black drained one of her five three pointers on the following possession to secure an infinite two-possession lead for the Bobcats. The Bulls were thrice within six, lastly at 2:38. The Bobcats scored back-to-back layups forcing UB to foul down the stretch.
UB was paced by a 32-point performance by junior Mackenzie Loesing, a career-high showing. She drained five threes, the first Bull to do so since she tallied six against Akron on Feb. 2, 2014, and went 9-for-11 at the line. UB shot a season-best 90 percent (18-of-20) at the charity stripe.
Senior captain Kristen Sharkey added 18 points and nine boards and sophomore Alexus Malone posted eight and seven, respectively. Freshman Stephanie Reid dished out a Bull-best four assists and junior Karin Moss made three steals in seven minutes on the court. Sophomore Joanna Smith recorded six key second-half points for the Bulls.
Sharkey remains ranked eighth in program history with 1,191 points, while Loesing moved into ninth with 1,189. Loesing led the Bulls in scoring for the third straight outing and ninth time this season.
The Bulls crashed the boards to lead the category, 40-33, while the Bobcats shot 42.4 percent from the floor to the Bulls' 39.7 percent. UB led the turnover count, 27-19, en route to 25 Ohio points.
UB owns a 16-15 edge in the series history dating back to 1998-99, though the Bobcats have now won three straight.
The Bulls return to Alumni Arena for their final regular-season home game of 2014-15 hosting Akron at 2 pm Saturday. UB's three seniors Christa Baccas, Ayana Bradley and Sharkey will be honored prior to the game.
