Bulls to Say Farewell to Senior Trio Saturday in Home Regular-Season Finale
2/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo, State University of New York women's basketball team will play its final regular-season home game of 2014-15 Saturday hosting Mid-American Conference opponent Akron. The Bulls (15-11, 8-7 MAC) and the Zips (20-6, 10-5 MAC) will meet for the 40th time with a 2 pm contest in Alumni Arena.
With the series tipping off on Feb. 2, 1992, the teams are deadlocked, 20-20. They have played at least two times annually since 1998-99. From the 1999-2000 season to 2007-08, the Bulls won 15 of 18 contests played, though the Zips have claimed 10 unanswered dating back to 2010-11.
The Bulls, who are a near flawless 8-2 during Saturday games this season, have a field goal percentage of 37.1, a three-point showing of 25.1 and a free throw percentage of 65.7. Leading the MAC in steals (11.3), offensive rebounds (16.0) and blocks (4.0) per game, UB averages 64.2 points and 42.0 boards per game. Senior Kristen Sharkey paces UB with 14.7 points per outing to go with 8.0 boards and 44 steals, while shooting a team-best 76.9 percent at the line. Junior Mackenzie Loesing is averaging 14.4 points per game and has 39 threes on the year. Sophomore Alexus Malone is posting 10.7 points and 7.8 rebounds a contest. She has seven double-doubles and chips in 40 assists and 44 steals. Senior Christa Baccas is contributing 7.9 points per game to help guide the balanced UB offense. She pulls down a Bull-best 8.1 boards per contest, highlighted by a MAC-high 3.5 offensive boards per game. Ranking second all-time at UB and 13th nationally among active Division I student-athletes with 236 blocks, Baccas has 48 to lead the conference this season. Junior Karin Moss has Bull-bests of 46 assists and 45 steals, while freshman Stephanie Reid adds 43 assists over 11 games. Baccas, Sharkey and Ayana Bradley will be honored during the senior day ceremony prior to the National Anthem.
Akron, who opened its season with 10 consecutive victories, has won five of its last seven, including an 81-70 victory over the Bulls on Feb. 11. The Zips rank third in the conference and are one of two 20-win teams. Akron paces the MAC with 74.9 points per game to opponents' 64.7, a field goal percentage of 44.4, a rebounding margin of +4.8, 16.3 assists per game and 28.7 defensive rebounds per outing. Additionally, they are shooting 34.4 percent from the arc and 68.3 percent from the line, while outrebounding teams, 42.0-37.2.
The game will air live 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.
