Bulls Open Up Two-Game Road Swing In Toledo On Wednesday Night
2/9/2016 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo, the State University of New York women's basketball team (11-10, 3-7 MAC) heads to northwest Ohio Wednesday seeking Mid-American Conference win No. 4 when they face the Toledo Rockets at 7 p.m.
The Bulls have back-to-back road games this week in northwestern Ohio before playing three straight at Alumni Arena later this month.
UB most recently dropped a game that went down to the final second to the Ball State Cardinals at Alumni Saturday, 59-57. UB built a 14-point lead midway through the third quarter and entered the fourth with a three-point cushion. The difference was never more than four points in the fourth quarter. Joanna Smith hit a layup with contact with 1.1 seconds remaining. She missed the free throw on purpose, but the Bulls were unable to secure the rebound for the potential game-tying or winning shot.
It was the first time this season that UB lost while outshooting their opponent (42.1 percent compared to 38.6 for the Cardinals).
Joanna Smith hit three 3-points as she notched an efficient 21 points to lead all scorers. Cassie Oursler, unencumbered by foul, trouble, put up 10 points and seven rebounds in 30 minutes of play. Point guard Stephanie Reid notched eight points, eight assists and four rebounds.
Joanna Smith Leads the Offense
The junior's breakout season continues. Smith this week garnered her fourth MAC East Division Player of the Week nod, becoming the first Bull to earn the weekly award four times in a season since Kourtney Brown did it five times in 2010-11.
In the Bulls' 1-1 week in which they upset previously unbeaten Ohio, Smith averaged 18.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.5 assists while leading the team in scoring in both games.
In the Bulls' 1-1 week in which they upset previously unbeaten Ohio, Smith averaged 18.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.5 assists while leading the team in scoring in both games.
On Saturday Smith eclipsed the 20-point mark for the 11th time this season and ninth in the past 12 games when she put up 21 against Ball State on 8-for-15 shooting while grabbing five rebounds and two steals.
After waiting her turn the last two years behind more senior players, Smith has elevated her game exponentially this season, and especially in conference play. She leads all scorers with 21.6 points per game and ranks first in three pointers made (35). Smith has now netted a team-best 63 three-pointers this year which ranks seventh in program history for long-balls made in a season.
While rebounding isn't always a priority for shooting guards, Smith is also pulling down nearly six on average with 1.8 steals.
Bulls Pull from the Bench
As Buffalo gets deeper into the season, head coach Felisha Legette-Jack can be more selective with the bench. Against Ohio and Ball State senior Karin Moss and sophomores Courtney Wilkins and Mariah Suchan have come off the bench to provide critical big buckets and energetic defense.
Moss filled the stat sheet as the spark off the bench putting up 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals against the Bobcats as the Bulls outscored Ohio's bench 19-3. UB also outscored the Cardinals' bench 12-9. Wilkins has hit four threes the past two games while Suchan has five boards. The trio also combined for four steals in the two games.
Scouting the Rockets
Toledo has rebounded well after starting the season 0-6 with a tough nonconference schedule. They currently sit in third place in the West Division with a 7-3 record. The Rockets are coming off a 67-64 win over Kent State.
Senior Brenae Harris leads the team in scoring with 16.2 points per game and also ranks first in the MAC in conference play with 5.8 assists. British junior Janice Monakana pours in an average of 12.2 points with 5.8 boards while 2014-15 All-MAC freshman team selection, Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott, is also scoring double-figures in MAC play. The Rockets are scoring 67.7 against MAC opponents while holding them to 65.7. They're outshooting MAC team 41.2 percent to 38.4.
Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm Wednesday in Toledo, Ohio. Join me, Sloane Martin, for the pregame at 6:30 on ESPN 1520 and streaming online.
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