Women's Hoops Returns To Action On Wednesday Night At Ball State
1/12/2016 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York women's basketball team (10-4, 2-1 MAC) hits the road again in possibly their toughest test of the season when they face the Ball State University Cardinals in Muncie, IN on Wednesday. The matchup features the Mid-American Conference's top defense versus a top-10 scorer nationally.
UB is coming off an exciting come-from-behind victory Saturday against the Kent State Golden Flashes in northeast, Ohio, 77-66, in which several season- and career-marks were bettered for their second MAC win of the year.
The Bulls scored a season-high 77 points (reaching 70 for the first time), but it didn't look early on that that would be the case. They trailed 14-2 after the first media timeout as the Golden Flashes splashed three 3-pointers and five of their first six field goal attempts. Later in the first quarter, they fell behind 21-5, but that's when the comeback started to take shape over the next 10 minutes. UB used an 8-nothing run at the end of the first frame to trail 24-13, then outscored Kent State 17-5 in the second quarter to take their first lead of the game with 45 seconds remaining in the first half. In the second half, the Bulls never trailed, scoring 28 fourth quarter points to secure the win.
Joanna Smith led all scorers with 25 points (16 in the second half) on seven 3's on 10 attempts to go along with seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. The junior has really been hitting her stride offensively of late, scoring an average of 23 points the last five games. The Bulls are 6-0 when she pours in 20+ points. Smith's also made a point to hit the boards, ranking third on the team in per-game average (5.6). She's been the Bulls' leading scoring in five straight games and 10 of 14 overall while earning MAC East Player of the Week honors three times.
Stephanie Reid showed her floor-general mentality down the stretch, hitting 7-of-8 from the foul line in the fourth quarter. She finished with season-highs in points (19) and assists (8). Katherine Ups chipped in 12 points and six rebounds and freshman Gabi Bade led all bench scorers with eight points. She also grabbed a career-high 8 rebounds.
As a team UB recorded 20 assists on 24 field goals and scored a season-high 35 points off 19 KSU turnovers. With the win, this Bulls' squad became the fastest to reach 10 win since 2000-01.
Now they take on a Ball State team with an identical record, picked to finish second in the West Division in the MAC preseason coaches' poll.
On the Road Again
After picking up the win in Kent, Ohio, Saturday, UB owns a 5-3 record away from Alumni Arena this season. The Bulls are in a stretch of playing seven of nine games on the road since the beginning of December.
The Cardinals are a perfect 7-0 at Worthen Arena this season with MAC wins over Toledo and Miami. They are outscoring opponents by an average of 20.8 points at home.
Scouting the Cardinals
The Cardinals are coming off a 66-41 win over the RedHawks Saturday to improve to 2-1 in the MAC; their only loss came at the hands of Ohio. They feature 6-foot-2 senior forward Nathalie Fontaine who, entering this week, ranked tenth in the nation in point-per-game scoring with 22.3. The Swede is shooting 51 percent from the floor and 80 percent from the foul line while also leading her team in rebounding (and ranking second in the MAC) with 9.8. In a win over Evansville Dec. 21, Fontaine lit up for 43 points.
Freshman Carmen Grande, of Spain, is in the top three in the MAC in assists per game and has a two-to-one assist to turnover ratio. Jill Morrison and 2014-15 all-MAC freshman team selection Moriah Monaco score 11.5 and 11.3 points, respectively.
Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm Wednesday in Muncie. Join me, Sloane Martin, for the pregame at 6:30 on ESPN 1520 and streaming online.
