Women's Hoops Opens MAC Play At Home Vs. Miami On New Year's Eve
12/31/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's basketball team (10-1, 0-0 MAC) will welcome the Miami (OH) RedHawks to Alumni Arena on New Year's Eve as both squads open their MAC schedules. The Bulls will; be playing in their third game in three days on Saturday as tip is set for 6:00 pm inside Alumni Arena.
BULLS OPEN MAC PLAY WITH MIAMI (OH) ON SATURDAY
Coming off of their first loss of the season and their third game in three days, the UB women's basketball team will look to get back on track on Saturday afternoon as they welcome the Miami (OH) RedHawks to Alumni Arena for their Mid-American Conference opener. The Bulls enter with a 10-1 record after falling to Harvard last time out in the Championship game of the Fordham Holiday Classic while the RedHawks enter with a 6-7 overall record.
UB'S 10-GAME WINNING STREAK SNAPPED BY HARVARD
Facing their biggest halftime defecit of the season, eight, the Bulls were not able to claw out a victory on Friday afternoon in the Championship game of the Fordham Holiday Classic. Sophomore Gabi Bade tried to single-handily shoot UB back into the game with four second half triples but her strong shooting efforts weren't enough as the Bulls fell 74-62 to Harvard. Junior Cassie Oursler led the Bulls offensively as she netted 15 points and nine rebounds while Gabi Bade came off the bench and netted 13 points in 19 minutes. Point guard Stephanie Reid continued her elite level of play as she netted eight points, a season-high 10 assists and three rebounds in the loss. Harvard shot 54.2% for the game while UB only shot 34.8% from the field.
PROGRAM RECORD START COMES TO AN END
With their loss to Harvard on Friday in the Fordham Holiday Classic Championship game, the Bulls program record start came to an end at 10-0. The previous program record for best start to a season was in 2000-01 when UB started off 8-0 before their first loss. Prior to Friday's loss, only UConn (20) had a better record over their last 20 games than Buffalo (18-2). UB currently sits at #26 in the latest RPI polls while earning a program best RPI of #12 earlier this season. RPI stands for Rating Percentage Index which is a quantity used to rank basketball teams based upon a team's wins, losses and strength of schedule.
FAMILIAR FOE
The Bulls and RedHawks are no strangers as the two MAC squads will be facing off for the 35th time in their history. The RedHawks own the 20-14 edge in the all-time series but the Bulls have been dominant as of late, winning six of the last nine in the series. The two sides split the season series, 1-1, last season with Miami winning at home 69-58 and the Bulls returning the favor with a 58-39 win at Alumni Arena later in the season.
HOME COOKIN'
The Bulls have been a great home team over the last 3+ seasons under head coach Felisha Legette-Jack as they own a 33-13 record at Alumni Arena. UB hasn't lost more than five games at home in a season in the past three seasons. UB has started off their 2016-17 campaign with seven straight home wins, marking the best start at home since 2000-01 when UB started off 7-0 in front of the home fans. The Buffalo offense is averaging 70.1 PPG while allowing just 52.3 PPG at home this season.
NON-CONFERENCE STRENGTH
The Bulls closed out their non-conference slate with a program-best 10-1 record. UB has been strong against non-conference foes over the past 3+ seasons under head coach Felisha Legette-Jack as they own a 32-14 record. The Bulls have been especially good against non-conference opponents over the past two seasons as they own a 18-5 mark. UB started off last season 6-0 before finishing 8-4 in non-conference play and have started off 10-1 this season. So far this season, the Bulls are outscoring their non-conference foes by an average of 12.0 PPG.
SPREAD OFFENSE
One of the major strengths of the Bulls this season has been their depth at every position. The Bulls have played all 13 players in at least four games this season while 12 players have appeared in at least seven games. Buffalo has seen 11 players net at least seven points in a game this season and they have been led in scoring by five different players through 11 games. UB has had at least eight players score in nine of 11 games this season.
CLEANING THE GLASS
One of the keys to the Bulls success this season has been winning the battle on the boards but this didn't prove to be true on Friday in the loss to Harvard. UB won the rebounding battle 37-29 but they were defeated by the Crimson. With the loss, UB dropped to 10-1 on the year and 27-5 over the past two seasons when winning or tying the rebounding battle. UB continued to be strong on the offensive glass as they grabbed 19 offensive rebounds and scored 12 second chance points. On the year, UB ranks 9th in the NCAA in rebounding margin (+12.4), 18th in offensive rebounds (17.0/game) and 20th in rebounds (44.7/game). UB is also averaging 13.9 second chance points/game so far this season while holding their opponents to an average of 7.5/game.
THE PINE IS FINE
The Buffalo bench has been strong all season long and that continued against Harvard as the Bulls outscored the Crimson 26-23 off the pine. Leading the bench was sophomore Gabi Bade who got hot from deep in the second half and finished with 13 points on 4-for-6 from behind the arc, all in the second half. UB is now 9-1 on the year when their bench outscores their opponents bench. UB is getting an average of 26.2 PPG out of their bench players on the season.
SHOOTING FOR THE STARS
One of the keys to success for the Bulls over the past couple of seasons under head coach Felisha Legette-Jack has been shooting a better percentage from the floor than their opponents. The Bulls were not able to win this category on Friday in the loss as Harvard shot 54.2% from the floor while the Bulls only shot 34.8%. UB is 8-0 this season and 25-1 over the past two seasons when shooting a higher percentage from the floor than their opponents.
SHARING MINUTES
The depth of the Bulls has been a strength all season long and it has helped UB produce a 10-1 record to start the season. The Bulls depth should help them today as they will be playing in their third game in three days. All 13 UB players are averaging at least 5.8 minutes of action a game while only four UB players are averaging at least 20 minutes/game. The Bulls have 11 players averaging at least 9.3 minutes/game while JoAnna Smith's playing time went from 34.4 minutes/game last season to 27.9 minutes/game this year, helping the senior stay fresh for another late season run.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
The strength of the Bulls over the past two seasons has been their defense and that has helped UB gather a 10-1 record to start the season. The Buffalo defense had a tough day on Friday as the Harvard Crimson were able to shoot 54.2% from the floor as they handed the Bulls their first loss of the season. The UB defense has been especially stingy against the three point shot as they rank first in the MAC in three point defense, holding opponents to just 29.9% from behind the arc. The Bulls also lead the MAC in scoring defense as they are holding opponents to 55.9 points/game. Buffalo is 34-7 over the last two seasons when holding their opponents under 70 points and are 14-0 when holding their opponents to scoring 50 points or less over the past two seasons. UB is also 7-0 this season when holding their opponents to 59 points or less.
JOANNA SMITH JUST 17 POINTS SHY OF 1,000
Senior JoAnna Smith was held to under 10 points for the second straight game and just third this season on Friday in the loss to Harvard. The Southaven, MS native finished off her game going 3-for-12 from the floor while notching nine points, three rebounds and three steals. Smith went 3-for-9 from behind the arc as she has now connected on at least one three pointer in 45 of her last 47 games and at least three triples in 26 of her last 47 games. With her three triples, Smith moved into fourth place on the all-time three pointers made list with 142 makes in her career. Smith is now just 19 threes shy of third place on the list. Buffalo is 8-0 this season and 27-11 over the past two seasons when Smith scores at least 10 points in a game. She has also netted 983 career points as she aims to become just the 23rd player in program history to surpass the 1,000-point plateau. On the season, Smith is averaging a team-best 12.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists and 1.5 steals while leading UB in scoring four times.
REID MOVES INTO 10TH PLACE ON ALL-TIME ASSIST CHARTS
Junior point guard Stephanie Reid continued to prove to be an elite distributor of the basketball on Friday in the loss against Harvard. Reid was able to record a season-high 10 assists while also netting eight points and three rebounds. With the 10 assists, Reid moved into 10th place on the all-time assist chart with 305 career helpers. She is now just six shy of ninth place and 11 shy of eighth place on the all-time charts. The Australian native has reached double figures in scoring six times in her last eight games. The crafty defender ranks sixth in the MAC averaging 2.1 SPG. Behind her recent strong play, Reid is averaging 9.6 points, 6.2 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals while ranking third in the MAC in assist/turnover ratio (2.4) and third in assists (6.2 APG).
OURSLER MAKING STRIDES OFFENSIVELY
Junior center Cassie Oursler has started to play at a high level down low for the Bulls as of late and it continued on Friday vs. Harvard. The junior led the Bulls in scoring as she finished the game going 7-for-13 for 15 points and nine rebounds. On the season, Oursler is averaging 20.6 minutes, 10.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while shooting 47.6% from the floor and 68.0% from the charity stripe. Dating back to last season, Oursler has scored in double figures in 11 of her last 18 games while recording at least one block in 18 of 21 as she has turned into a defensive stopper inside the paint for UB. Oursler has notched 14 multi-block games in her 35 career outings.
FRESHMAN PHENOM
Freshman forward Summer Hemphill has shown flashes of greatness through her first 11 games. The freshman had a quiet game on Friday in the loss to Harvard as she finished with four points, four rebounds, two steals and one block. Hemphill went 2-for-5 from the floor and currently ranks second in the MAC in field goal percentage (63.5%). The Buffalo native continues to cause problems for opposing teams with her length at the top of the Buffalo press while also settling in defensively as she has notched at least one block in eight straight games and has recorded at least one steal in eight of 11 games. The freshman has notched two blocks in five of her last eight games. Through 11 career games, Hemphill is averaging 7.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks. Her 2.7 offensive rebounds/game ranks eighth in the MAC so far this season as she has caused problems on the glass with her quick leaping ability.
BAD(E) TO THE BONE
Sophomore Gabi Bade has proved to be a legitamate scoring threat off the Buffalo bench over her two-year career. The Milpitas, CA native exploded in the second half against Harvard on Friday as she was able to net 13 second half points. The sophomore finished the game going 4-for-8 from the field and 4-for-6 from behind the arc as she tied a career-best with four triples in the game. Bade is having a career year for UB as she is averaging 17.1 minutes, 6.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists while also netting a career-high 16 points earlier in the season. UB is 3-0 this season and 5-1 over the past two seasons when Bade nets at least 10 points.
MORRISON GROWING INTO BENCH ROLE
After starting the first two games of the season at forward, Sophomore Brittany Morrison is expanding her game off the bench for the Bulls over the past nine games. The undersized forward came off the bench in Friday's loss and was very effective down low as she finished with four points, four rebounds, a steal and a block in nine minutes of work. Morrison has been strong on the offensive glass as she has grabbed 16 offensive rebounds through 11 games. The North Ridgeville, OH native is averaging 3.5 points and 3.5 rebounds across 12.3 minutes/game so far this season.
UPS, UPS AND AWAY
Earning the starting nod for the second straight season at the small forward position, Katherine Ups has continued to grow into an important role player for the Bulls. The Wollongong, Australia native is a glue player for a very strong and deep Buffalo team. Ups didn't have much of an impact offensively for UB against Harvard as she was held scoreless but she recorded two assists and one rebound while playing tough defense. On the year, Ups has started all 11 games and is averaging 5.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.9 steals across an average of 20.7 minutes of action per game. The junior has earned 28 straight starts for the Bulls and UB owns a 20-8 record in those starts.
ONWUKA CONTINUES STEADY PLAY
Freshman Theresa Onwuka has continued to improve and earn the trust of the UB coaching staff through 11 games this season. The lengthy guard saw action in her 11th straight game on Friday and she earned a season-high 23 minutes of action including five minutes in the final quarter. The freshman finished off her game with five points, two rebounds and one assist.Onwuka has now seen the floor for 10 minutes or more in five games this season. On the year, Onwuka is averaging 11.5 MPG, 3.2 PPG, 1.5 RPG and 0.7 SPG through 11 career games.
TURNING THEM OVER
Through their first 11 games, the Bulls have won the points off turnovers category eight times and they won each of those eight games. On Friday, the Bulls were outscored 21-18 off turnovers by the Crimson as UB dropped their first game of the season. On the year, UB is forcing an average of 18.2 turnovers/game while turning those turnovers into an average of 20.3 PPG.
RUNNING WITH THE BULLS
The Bulls haven't been known to be a team that likes to get out on the fast break and run but that trend has begun to change early on this season with the addition of some athletic and talented freshman. The Bulls were outscored on the fast break for the first time this season in the loss to Harvard, 11-6. Over their 10 wins, UB owns a 93-20 edge in fast break scoring while holding the 99-31 edge overall this season.
CHARITY STRIPE PROWESS
Having a point guard who can shoot free throws at a high percentage is a major plus for teams hoping to compete for championships and Buffalo has just that in junior Stephanie Reid. The Melbourne, Australia native has been great at the charity stripe for the Bulls over her career as she has made 151-of-200 attempts (75.5%), ranking seventh in program history for free throw percentage.
