Bulls Host Kent State In Season Finale And Senior Day On Saturday
3/4/2016 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's basketball team welcomes Kent State to Alumni Arena on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 pm for both teams season finales. Saturday's game will also be Senior Day for a pair of UB student-athletes, Karin Moss and Mackenzie Loesing.
ABOUT THE FLASHES
The Kent State flashes enter Saturday's regular season finale in Buffalo with a 6-21 overall record to go along with a 3-14 MAC mark. The Golden Flashes are coming off of a 59-53 victory at home on Wednesday night. Leading the Kent State offensive attack is sophomore forward Jordan Korinek as she has started all 27 games and is averaging 15.9 points to go along with a team-best 6.5 rebounds. Larissa Lurken ranks second on the squad with 14.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals. On the year, the Golden Flashes are averaging 62.0 PPG while allowing their opponents to score an average of 71.2 points. Kent State owns an 0-11 road record this season and 0-8 in MAC play.
BULLS HOST SENIOR DAY FOR KARIN MOSS ON SATURDAY
As the regular season comes to a close on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Arena, the Bulls are set to honor team captain Karin Moss prior to the game as part of senior day. Although it will not be Moss' final home game of her career, the four-year player is set to be honored for everything she has brought to the program since her arrival. Also being honored with Moss on Saturday will be former UB standout Mackenzie Loesing who was medically disqualified prior to this season due to ankle problems. The two will be recognized before UB takes on Kent State. With a win and a Western Michigan loss, the Bulls would be the 7-seed in the upcoming MAC Tournament and host Northern Illinois on Monday at Alumni Arena.
AKRON SNAPS BULLS THREE-GAME WINNING STREAK
Looking to extend their winning streak to four games, the Bulls couldn't catch a break on Wednesday night as they were defeated by the Akron Zips on the road, 62-49. The Bulls held the five-point halftime lead but the Zips were awarded 16 second half free throws compared to the UB two which ended up being the deciding factor in the game. Joanna Smith led UB in scoring once again as she netted her second double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds while draining three triples. Cassie Oursler had a strong game as she went for 10 points and seven rebounds while Karin Moss came off the bench and provided UB with a spark, finishing with six points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists.
THREE'S COMPANY
The three-point shot has become a bigger part of the UB offense this season opposed to last as the Bulls have already made more three-pointers this season (162) than last season (148). The Bulls surpassed last seasons three-point total and have at least two more games remaining. Joanna Smith leads the Bulls in three-pointers with a career-high 82 while Stephanie Reid ranks second on the team with 21 and freshman Gabi Bade has netted 20 three-pointers. The Bulls offense is averaging 5.8 three-pointers/game so far this season while taking an average of 20.3/game. Five UB players have made at least 10 three-pointers this season. As a team, the Bulls have netted at least one three-pointer in all 28 games this season and have notched 5+ three's in a game 20 times this season.
SMITH RANKS SECOND IN SCORING IN MAC GAMES
Junior guard Joanna Smith didn't have her best shooting day on Wednesday night but her night was cut short due to fouling out. Smith was still able to finish with her second double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 boards in the UB loss. Smith has led the Bulls in scoring 21 times this season. On the year, she ranks fourth in the MAC in scoring (18.1 PPG) while also ranking second on the Bulls in rebounding (6.0 RPG). She also ranks second in the MAC in scoring in conference games (19.6 PPG) and third in three-pointers made (82). The sharp-shooter currently ranks 15th in the NCAA in three-pointers/game (2.9) and 13th in the NCAA in three-pointers made (82). The Bulls are 7-7 on the year when Smith notches 20+ points and she has notched 12 games of 20+ points in her last 19 games. She now ranks third in program history for three-pointers made in a season (82) and 10th in career three-pointer made (101). In MAC play, Smith is averaging 19.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while playing a team-high 36.4 MPG. Smith has now recorded at least one three-pointer in 27 of 28 games this year and 3+ three-pointers in 17 of 28 games. Smith has been named MAC East Player of the Week four times this season, becoming the first UB player to earn the weekly award four times in a season since 2010-11 when Kourtney Brown earned the award five times.
REID ALL ABOUT IT
After some growing pains early in the season, sophomore point guard Stephanie Reid has been very consisent as of late. Following her dominant week for UB last week, Reid was named MAC East Player of the Week on Monday. Reid averaged 17.5 points, 7.0 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals while leading UB to a 2-0 record. Reid had a quiet night on Wednesday as the Bulls feel on the road to Akron as she finished with seven points, three assists and two rebounds in a team-high 37 minutes of action. In MAC play, Reid has played at another level as she is averaging 11.8 points, 5.3 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals while notching over five assists in 11 of the 17 conference games. Through 28 games this season, Reid has continued to prosper into one of the best point guards in the conference as she is averaging 10.5 points, 4.8 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals. The nifty point guard ranks second in the MAC in assists/game in conference games (5.3 APG) and fifth in the MAC in steals/game (1.9 SPG). Reid's impact on the game goes deeper than just points and assists as the sophomore's leadership and calmness on the court are unmatched by most point guards in the conference.
OURSLER HAS STRONG SHOWING IN LOSS
It seems as though junior center Cassie Oursler is rounding into form at the right time as she has started to pick up her play as of late and stayed out of foul trouble that plagued her early on in the season. The Grand Island native is coming off of a strong game at Akron on Wednesday as she finished with 10 points, seven rebounds (three offensive) and a game-high two blocks in 27 minutes. Oursler has proved to be a huge presence not only on the offensive end of the court but also on the defensive end as she alters most shots taken near the paint. Over her last four games, Oursler is averaging 9.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks while leading UB to three wins.
HITTING THE OFFENSIVE GLASS
One of the strengths of the Bulls this season has been hitting the offensive glass as they are averaging 14.8 offensive rebounds/game on the season. Over the last six games the Bulls have been going after the offensive rebounds at an even higher clip as they are averaging 19.3 offensive boards/game, going 4-2 over that span. The Bulls currently lead the MAC in offensive rebounding in MAC games, averaging 16.0/game. On the year, the Bulls have notched 26 games with at least 10 offensive rebounds. The Bulls grabbed a season-high 30 offensive rebounds against Eastern Michigan on February 17, turning those into 13 second chance points.
LINEUP CHANGES
After going with the same lineup for the first seven games of the season, the Bulls have begun to tinker with their lineup during conference play. UB has used a total of 10 different starting lineup combinations so far this season but have used the same lineup in their last four games, going 3-1. Stephanie Reid and Joanna Smith are the only UB players to start all 28 games this season. The Lineup of Stephanie Reid, Joanna Smith, Liisa Ups, Katherine Ups and Mirte Scheper has been used the most this season, nine times in 28 games.
BATTLE OF THE BOARDS
The Bulls have proved throughout this season that winning the battle on the boards was a key to winning games. This proved to be true on Wednesday as the Bulls were outrebounded by Akron 43-41 and they lost the game. The Bulls are 13-4 on the year when winning the rebounding battle or being tied in rebounds and 2-9 when they are outrebounded. UB is averaging 40.1 RPG including 14.8 offensive boards/game. In MAC play, the Bulls lead the conference in offensive RPG (16.0). The Bulls currently rank third in the MAC in rebounding margin (+3.6 RPG).
HOLDING STRONG
One key factor to success for the Bulls has been earning the lead before the fourth quarter begins and UB has been pretty successful with that so far. When UB holds the lead heading into the final 10 minutes, they hold a 14-2 record, with their last victory coming on Saturday at Ohio. If the Bulls are trailing as they enter the final quarter, they own a 1-11 record with their lone come-from-behind fourth quarter victory coming against Central Florida, when they were down two heading into the fourth. When the Bulls are leading with five minutes to go, they own a 13-1 record on the year as they have proved they can close out games down the stretch. UB has claimed just one win (1-11) when trailing with five minutes left in the game.
SHOOTING FOR THE STARS
One of the keys to every game is shooting a high percentage from the floor and the Bulls have proved that winning the field goal percentage battle will win you games. The Bulls have shot a higher percentage from the floor than their opponents in 15 of 28 games, winning 14 of the 15 games in which they shot a higher percentage. Last time out the Bulls only shot 29.2% while the Zips shot 40% as they downed UB. On the year, the Bulls are shooting 36% from the floor while their opponents are shooting 37.4%.
