Bulls Press On In MAC Play; Travel To Kent State On Saturday Afternoon

GAMES NOTES (.PDF)

BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York women's basketball team (9-4, 1-1 MAC) will take on the Kent State Golden Flashes Saturday, Jan. 9 in northeast Ohio coming off their first Mid-American Conference win of the season on Wednesday.

The Bulls improved to 1-1 in the conference with an all-around quality win over Central Michigan Wednesday at Alumni Arena -- the team's first time playing back on campus since Dec. 6. Now they head back on the road looking for their second MAC victory.

UB's dominating defense was on full display Wednesday as they held the MAC's second highest scoring offense to just 61 points (14 below the Chippewas' season average entering the contest). The defense ranked 36th in the nation entering this week and first in the MAC allowing an average of 55.9 points per game; but the offense was just as productive, scoring a season-high 67 points. The Bulls also protected the ball, turning it over just 12 times -- a season-low.

There are plenty of positives to take from the win: the young Bulls took the lead very early at 5-2 and never relinquished it, eventually building the cushion to 11; the bench scored 29 points due in part to several career-highs from freshmen Gabi Bade and Brittany Morrison; and the Bulls showed composure down the stretch as Central brought it within one-possession late in the fourth quarter to hold on to win.

Benchmarks

UB's bench is deep and as young talent is developing and gaining confidence under head coach Felisha Legette-Jack's system, she has the ability to stick with the hot hand depending on the opponent. Against CMU, that was a pair of freshmen, Gabi Bade and Brittany Morrison. Both displayed spectacular hustle which led to defensive stops and scoring opportunities throughout their respective 20 and 21 minutes on the floor. UB's bench outscored the Chippewas' 29-0.

Bade, a guard, finished with 10 points and pulled down a career-high seven boards to go along with two steals. Morrison, a 5-foot-9 forward, registered the Bulls' third double-double this season -- and the first of her young career -- with 13 points and 10 rebounds (five offensive), setting two new career marks in the process.

Offense: Fueled by Jo

Joanna Smith dominated to start the game against the Chippewas' zone, netting three 3's en route to 13 points after the first 10 minutes. The Mississippi native finished with 21 points and seven rebounds. It's the fifth time the junior has scored at least 20 points in a game -- and the Bulls are undefeated when she does.

Smith is scoring 22.5 points over the last four games, but also has made an emphasis to hit the boards. She's averaging 5.5 RPG which ranks third on the team. Over the same span she's pulling down 6.0 on average.

Scouting the Golden Flashes

Kent State (3-9, 0-2) has MAC losses to Central Michigan and then Toledo. The first was an 81-61 defeat, but the second against the Rockets was a slimmer margin, 73-67, as a fourth quarter comeback fell short.

This team is returning three starters from last year's squad. Three are averaging double figures led by Jordan Korinek's 15.1 and followed by Larissa Lurken (14.6) and Tyra James (10.3). The Golden Flashes are second in the MAC in steals per game with more than 10 -- a mark that ranks 37th in the nation.

Tip-off is 2:00 pm on Saturday. Join me, Sloane Martin, for the pregame show at 1:30 on ESPN 1520, or streaming online.

University at Buffalo Athletics

Bulls Press On In MAC Play; Travel To Kent State On Saturday Afternoon

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