18-11, 11-7MAC
Kent State
5-24, 3-15MAC
Bulls Blank Kent State 68-58, Secure First-Round MAC Bye
3/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
KENT, OH – The University at Buffalo, State University of New York women's basketball team closed out its regular season with a 68-58 victory over Kent State Saturday at Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center. The Bulls receive a first-round bye in the Mid-American Conference Tournament and will play at noon on Thursday, March 12 in the quarterfinals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH.
The Bulls (18-11, 11-7 MAC), who never trailed the Golden Flashes (5-24, 3-15 MAC), secured their first 18-win season since 2002-03.
"This team is really special," said third-year head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "These young ladies have a story to tell and anytime we play, we're going to be ready."
"I'm excited to go to Cleveland. We're going to have to play a lot more defense because a lot of teams are scoring a lot of points right now. We've bought into our defense and I think we're going to be in a good place."
The game was tied on four occasions, though the Bulls never trailed the Flashes. UB twice led by five in the opening frame and took a 31-29 edge into the locker room at intermission.
Sophomore Joanna Smith hit a three to open the second and tip off a 10-3 run. The Bulls held its largest lead of the game, 58-45, at 5:33. Kent State snuck within eight at 2:20 and again at 1:13, but the Bulls hit free throws and had a huge defensive stop on an Alexus Malone block to cruise to victory.
The Bulls put four in double figures for the second time in three games. Senior Kristen Sharkey tallied her seventh double-double of the season and 22nd of her career with 15 points and a game-high 10 boards. Smith, who is averaging 17.3 points per game over the Bulls' last three wins, scored 15. Malone flirted with a double-double of her own with 14 points and nine boards. She was 5-for-7 from the floor and 4-for-4 at the line. Junior Mackenzie Loesing chipped in 12 points. Freshman Stephanie Reid contributed eight to go with four assists. Senior Christa Baccas had seven boards and three steals.
Sharkey moved into 10th all-time with 734 rebounds and became just the fifth Bull to record 300 career free throws.
Kent State, who went inside for 32 of their 58 points, was led by center CiCi Shannon with 16 points, 10 boards and four steals. Larissa Lurken hit all three of Kent's threes and scored 11 points. Mikell Chinn had six assists.
UB shot 39.6 percent from the floor to the Flashes' 35.3 percent, but led the turnover count 22-17.
Though Kent State dominates the all-time series, 26-10, UB has won seven straight against the Golden Flashes.
Securing the No. 4 seed for the second straight season, the highest in program history, UB will play either No. 5 Western Michigan, No. 8 Northern Illinois, No. 9 Central Michigan or No. 12 Bowling Green on Thursday.
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