University at Buffalo
19-13
Akron
19-13
Bulls Upset Akron to Advance to First MAC Title Game
3/11/2016 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
Joanna Smith Post Game Interview
Gabi Bade Post Game Interview
Ayoleka Sodade Post Game Interview
Post Game Press Conference
CLEVELAND, OH – For the first time in school history, the University at Buffalo women's basketball team will play for a Mid-American Conference championship after upsetting 5th-seeded Akron, 88-87, in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament on Friday afternoon.
"I'm just so proud of this young team," head coach Felisha Legette-Jack said. "They're resilient, I tell you. We're getting better. We've got a long way to go, but we're going to enjoy this moment for sure."
When Stephanie Reid fouled out of the game early in the third quarter, Legette-Jack had to turn to her young bench to step up. And boy, did they ever. Freshman Gabi Bade, who didn't even play in the first half, scored 13 points. Sophomore Mariah Suchan and freshman Ayoleka Sodade scored 11 and six points, respectively, both career highs. Morrison, another freshman, added eight points and a game-high 12 rebounds. In total, freshmen and sophomores accounted for 58 of UB's 88 points.
Early on, Akron was able to exploit the Bulls zone defense by shooting 9-of-15 from beyond the arc and led 46-41 at halftime. However, second-half defensive adjustments by Buffalo changed the complexion of the game. Akron made only one of its first 10 three-point attempts to start the second half.
After the Zips opened a seven-point lead midway through the third quarter, the Bulls clamped down on defense, allowing Akron to score only six points the rest of the quarter. UB whittled the lead down to three with one quarter to play.
The Bulls opened the fourth quarter on a 12-5 scoring run. Cassie Oursler hit a driving layup and was fouled. Her free throw gave the Bulls their first lead of the quarter, 70-69. Joanna Smith followed with a three pointer and a jumper in the paint by Bade put UB up, 75-69, with 4:51 left.
Another Oursler layup and two free throws by Sodade extended the UB advantage to 79-72 with 1:23 left. A Bade free throw with 1:17 put the Bulls ahead, 80-72, their largest lead of the game.
Akron's three-point shooting kept them in the game. The Zips knocked down three-pointers on three straight possessions and all of the sudden the UB lead was three with 48 ticks left. Electing not to foul, Akron let the Bulls play out the possession. Smith missed a three-point attempt late in the shot clock. However, Suchan came up with a huge offensive rebound and hit the lay up to extend the UB lead to five with 20 seconds left.
The Zips hit three free throws at the other end to make the score 86-84 with seven seconds left and they immediately fouled Sodade. Although Sodade missed both free throws, she was able to grab her our rebound off the second miss and lay it in to seal the win for the Bulls.
"When I let go of the ball, I knew it wasn't going in, and I followed the ball with my eyes and they tipped it back to me and I grabbed it and I just put it up," Sodade said. "I was right under the basket, so I had to do what I had to do."
Ten different players scored for the Bulls and five UB players scored in double-figures for the first time since Nov. 18, 2014.
"It's not about any individual," Legette-Jack said. "Although Stephanie and Joanna are very big parts of our puzzle, we recruited 14 kids to play and when your time comes, you must be ready. So we don't practice as if those two are the most special ones, and the other ones get yelled at. They all get yelled at equally. They're all asked to do the same things equally. They're all asked to control that locker room equally so none of them feel like they're beneath or better, and I think that's the best way to raise a family, and that's what we're trying to do is raise a family."
The Bulls will next play #2-seeded Central Michigan on Saturday at 1 pm for a chance to win their first ever MAC Championship.
