University at Buffalo
11-9 (3-6MAC)
Ball State
15-5 (7-2MAC)
Ball State Edges Out Women's Hoops, 59-57
2/6/2016 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York women's basketball team was edged out at Alumni Arena on Saturday afternoon, 59-57. The loss drops the Bulls record to 11-10 overall and 3-7 in MAC play while Ball State improved to 16-5 overall and 8-2 in the MAC.
"I thought we did a better job of defending today," said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "Ball State was a very good rebounding team and I believe when we are allowed to be good we are a good rebounding team as well but we just need to keep getting better in that area."
After trailing by as many as four in the final quarter, the Bulls were able to take the one point lead, 53-52, after Mariah Suchan came away with a steal and Joanna Smith was fouled and made a pair of free throws. The Cardinals responded quickly with a bucket to take the lead back before Karin Moss drilled a transition jumper to give UB back the lead. Ball State responded with four straight points before Joanna Smith made a layup with one second remaining. The ensuing free throw was missed by Smith on purpose but UB was not able to grabbed the board and convert on the game-tying score.
After a tightly contested first couple of minutes, the Cardinals were able to take a three-point lead, 10-7, after they converted a layup and a free throw. However, the Bulls stormed back and went on a 7-0 run of their own to take the lead back, 14-10. Stephanie Reid started the run with a layup before Smith buried five straight to give the Bulls their biggest lead of the quarter.
Courtney Wilkens opened up the second quarter with a three-pointer to give the Bulls the seven-point lead but Ball State responded quickly with a 9-0 run to take the lead back. Smith then started a 9-0 run for the Bulls with a deep three-pointer as they regained the 26-19 lead at halftime.
The Bulls opened up the second half scoring five of the first seven points as Cassie Oursler made a layup and freshman Gabi Bade drained a three-pointer, giving the Bulls the 31-21 lead. After the Cardinals cut the UB lead to seven, the Bulls went on a 9-2 run that was capped off by another Wilkins three-pointer off a nice feed from Bade, giving Buffalo their biggest lead of the game, 42-28. The Bulls couldn't close the door on the Cardinals down the stretch as the visitors went on a 13-2 run to close the third and trailed by only three.
In the final quarter, the Bulls couldn't get the big defensive stop they needed to win the game and they fell to the Cardinals, 59-57.
Smith led all scorers with 21 points as she went 8-for-15 from the floor and 3-for-4 from behind the arc. The junior also grabbed five rebounds and two steals while going over the 20-point plateau for the 11th time this season and ninth time in the past 12 contests.
Oursler had a huge presence inside for the Bulls on Saturday as she finished off her strong game with 10 points, seven rebounds and a career-high five blocked shots. Reid was a great distributor all game long as she notched eight assists to go along with eight points and four rebounds while Wilkins came off the bench and scored eight points in the loss for the Bulls.
As a team, the Bulls shot a higher percentage (42.1%) from the floor than the Cardinals (38.6%) as they are now 11-1 on the year when shooting a better percentage from the floor. The Bulls were edged on the glass, 40-31, but they did force 18 Cardinals turnovers that turned into 15 points.
The Bulls will return to the road on Wednesday night as they travel to Toledo to take on the Rockets. Tip is set for 7:00 pm and will be aired on Time Warner Cable Sports Channel.
