University at Buffalo
8-4 (0-1MAC)
Eastern Michigan
10-2 (1-0MAC)
Bulls Fall In MAC Opener At Eastern Michigan, 67-56
1/2/2016 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
YPSILANTI, MI – The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York women's basketball team (8-4, 0-1 MAC) dropped their Mid-American Conference opener on Saturday afternoon at Eastern Michigan by the score of 67-56.
"We gave this game away today," said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "We looked at this team as they had seven players on the court and we only played with them for three and a half quarters. Our kids have to understand to win, they need to play with a different kind of desire and we didn't play with that desire today."
The third quarter turned out to be the turning point in the game for the Eagles as they were able to extend their halftime lead out to 14 points at the end of 30 minutes. The Eagles opened up the quarter on a 7-0 run behind seven straight points from the third leading scorer in the MAC, Cha Sweeney. The Bulls were able to draw within 11 midway through the quarter as Cassie Oursler converted on a three-point play after getting fouled on her layup attempt. Eastern Michigan was able to extend the lead to 16 before a pair of Stephanie Reid free throws made the score 48-34 at the end of the third.
Liisa Ups started off the game strong for the Bulls as she was able to notch UB's first six points of the game on 3-for-3 from the floor, setting a new career-high for scoring in just 10 minutes. After the Eagles gained the 6-4 lead, the Bulls offense woke up and closed the quarter on a 9-2 run to take the 13-8 edge after one quarter. Leading scorer Joanna Smith got hot midway through the quarter as she scored the final seven points for the Bulls. Smith recorded a three-point play after driving to the bucket and making a layup and then she hit back-to-back contested jumpers to close the quarter.
The second quarter was dominated by the Eagles as they got off to a 10-2 start in the quarter to take the 18-15 lead. Stephanie Reid drilled her first three-pointer of the game to tie the game, 18-18, but the Eagles went on a quick 7-0 run to take the 25-18 lead. Freshman Gabi Bade came off the bench and nailed a deep ball after the Bulls grabbed three offensive rebounds to make the score 25-21 in favor of the home team. However, the Eagles were able to close out the half with a three-pointer at the buzzer to take the seven point lead into the locker room, 28-21.
The Bulls defense wasn't the problem in the opening half as they held the highest scoring team in the MAC to just 28 points on 7-for-30 (23.3%) from the floor. UB turned the ball over 14 times in the first 20 minutes and the Eagles were able to score 10 points off those turnovers.
After a bad stretch in the third quarter that saw the Eagles extend the lead to 14, the Bulls showed great heart in the final quarter as they were able to cut the deficit to as low as three points. The Bulls used a 13-0 run early on in the fourth to come within three points as Karin Moss buried two deep balls and Smith added five points. The Eagles were able to pull away late in the quarter as the Bulls offense was not able to come all the way back.
Smith led the Bulls offensive charge on Saturday as she was able to notch 19 points on 7-for-14 from the floor to go along with five rebounds. Smith failed to score 20+ points for the third straight game in the loss for UB. Katherine Ups had a strong game on the glass for the Bulls as she finished with a career-high 14 rebounds, five points and three assists while Oursler finished with nine boards and five points. Moss came off the bench and provided a spark with eight points, two rebounds and two assists. Liisa Ups had a strong first half as she finished with a career-high six points in the loss.
The biggest difference in the game for the Bulls was the turnovers as they turned the ball over 21 times, leading to 18 Eastern Michigan points. The Bulls were strong on the glass and defensively as they held the 50-40 edge in rebounds while holding the high-scoring Eagles to 32.8% shooting from the floor and 5-for-17 from behind the arc.
The Bulls will return to the court on Wednesday as they will welcome Central Michigan to Alumni Arena. Tip is set for 7:00 pm.
