University at Buffalo
12-11, 4-8MAC
Bowling Green
8-13, 4-8MAC
Women's Hoops Stifles Bowling Green On The Road, 63-50
2/13/2016 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
Mirte Scheper Post Game Interview
BOWLING GREEN, OH - The University at Buffalo women's basketball team collected a big road victory on Saturday afternoon against the Bowling Green Falcons by the score of 63-50. Stephanie Reid finished with a game-high 21 points as she netted a career-high four three-pointers. With the win, UB improves to 12-11 overall and 4-8 in MAC play.
"This was a great team win," stated head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "It took the entire team to pull off this road win. We aren't just about two people, we have to work as a collective unit out there and so many different people stepped up for us today. Mirte did a tremendous job and Brittany came in off the bench with great energy while Karin and Ayoleka had great games on the defensive end of the court. Now people have to be mopre worried about our defense as opposed to defending us so if we can continue to really trust in each other, i think we have a chance to continue on our upward swing."
The turning point of the game came in the final 10 minutes of play as the Buffalo defense took over the game. UB allowed just six points in the quarter as Karin Moss and the feisty UB defense didn't give the Falcons any room and forced multiple turnovers that led to six UB points. Reid finished the fourth with five points while Mirte Scheper and Moss each netted four as UB held Bowling Green to 50 points, improving to 7-0 on the year when holding their opponents to 50- points or less.
The Bulls had a rough opening quarter on Saturday as they went 2-for-11 from the floor and committed six turnovers in the first. Mirte Scheper opened the scoring for the Bulls as Katherine Ups found her with a great pass and she finished the layup. Scheper then notched another layup to give UB the early 4-2 lead but the Falcons went on an 11-0 run to take the 13-4 lead. Brittany Morrison and Cassie Oursler closed out the scoring with a free throw each as Bowling Green took the 14-6 lead after one quarter.
The Bulls showed great fight in the second quarter as they overcame some cold shooting from the first quarter. After the Falcons were able to stretch the lead out to 26-16, the Bulls came storming back as Morrison finished a layup and then earned a hustle steal that led to a Reid three-pointer. The Bulls were then able to end the half on a 19-4 run as Ayoleka Sodade came in and provided a huge spark for the Bulls. Sodade notched four quick points and assisted on Joanna Smith's three-pointer that gave UB their first lead of the second quarter, 35-33. After Smith drilled the transition three, Scheper finished a layup to give UB the 37-33 halftime lead after falling behind by as many as 10 in the opening half.
The 31-point second quarter was UB's highest scoring quarter all season long as they were able to go 11-for-14 (78.6%) from the floor. Reid led all UB players with a season-high 14 points in the second quarter.
The third quarter was a very evenly contested 10 minutes as the two teams were knotted, 11-11, in the corner. Smith finished the quarter with four points while Morrison and Mariah Suchan each finished off layups to give UB the 48-44 lead after 30 minutes of action.
Reid was the game's leading scorer as she finished off her second game this season with 20+ points as she went 8-for-18 from the floor and 4-for-7 from deep for 21 points, four assists and two rebounds. Scheper had a career game in her second straight start as she netted a career-high 11 points while snagging six rebounds in the win. MAC-leading scorer Joanna Smith was double-teamed all game long but was still able to manage 11 points, nine rebounds and three assists in the victory.
Off the bench, Suchan had a strong game as she finished with four points and six rebounds while Sodade played 15 minutes and produced four points, three rebounds and two assists. Morrison contributed five points and four boards in the win.
The Bulls were able to shoot 43.6% from the floor while Bowling Green was held to just 31.4% shooting in the game, giving UB a 12-1 record when shooting a higher percentage from the floor than their opponent. On the boards, UB had a huge game as they outrebounded the Falcons 50-26 as they improved to 9-3 on the year when they win the rebounding battle.
The Bulls will return home for the first of three straight home games on Wednesday as they play host to Eastern Michigan at Alumni Arena. Tip is set for 7:00 pm on Wednesday.
