Women's Hoops Set To Clash With Top-Seeded Ohio On Wednesday In Cleveland
3/8/2016 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
- MAC QUARTERFINAL GAME NOTES
- 2016 MAC WBB TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
- 2016 MAC TOURNAMENT BRACKET
- TICKET CENTRAL
BUFFALO, NY - Making their fourth straight trip to the Mid-American Conference quarterfinals, the University at Buffalo women's basketball team (17-13, 8-10 MAC) is set to take on top-seeded Ohio on Wednesday at 12:00 pm at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. The Bulls enter the MAC Tournament as the eight-seed while the Bobcats enter as the one-seed after going 16-2 in the MAC during the regular season.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
The Ohio Bobcats enter Wednesday's MAC Quarterfinal matchup with the Bulls finishing the regular season as the top-seed. The Bobcats went 24-5 overall and 16-2 in MAC play, with both losses coming to the Bulls. Ohio is led by first team All-MAC performer Kiyanna Black who is averaging 18.4 points and 3.4 rebounds while making a MAC-high 112 three-pointers. Quiera Lampkins ranks second on the squad in scoring, averaging 14.2 points and 4.9 rebounds, while also earning second team All-MAC honors and MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Lampkins notched a MAC-leading 72 steals on the year. The Bobcats are averaging a MAC-high 72.9 PPG while allowing 59.1 PPG defensively.
BULLS HEAD TO CLEVELAND TO SQUARE OFF WITH OHIO
After taking care of business on their home court on Monday night against Bowling Green, the UB women's basketball team heads to Cleveland to take on the top-seeded Ohio Bobcats on Wednesday afternoon in the MAC Quarterfinals. Earning their fourth straight trip to the quarters, the Bulls will have to pull off a very difficult feat in order to make another semifinals appearance, beat a team three times in a season. The Bulls have handed the Bobcats their only two conference losses of the season as they look to bounce the defending MAC champs from the Tournament on Wednesday afternoon. Tip is set for 12:00 pm at Quicken Loans Arena in Downtown Cleveland.
UB RUNS AWAY FROM BG IN MAC FIRST ROUND GAME
The Bulls didn't take hosting a home playoff game lightly on Monday night at Alumni Arena as they dominated the ninth-seeded Bowling Green Falcons from beginning to end, downing them 60-44 in front of the home fans. The victory secured a spot in Cleveland for the Bulls. The Bulls scored the first basket of the game and never looked back as they led by as much as 24. The Bulls held the Falcons scoreless for 8:14 in the third quarter as they used a 14-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game. Joanna Smith led all players with 16 points to go along with eight rebounds. Cassie Oursler had a strong game as she finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, three steals and two assists in the win. The Bulls improved to 16-2 when leading heading into the final quarter.
TWO BULLS NAMED TO ALL-MAC TEAMS
With the regular season officially in the books, it was time for the MASC postseason awards to come out and the Bulls had two players earn postseason recognition. Junior Joanna Smith was named to the All-MAC First Team, earning All-MAC recognition for the first time in her career, after a huge season for the Bulls. Smith became just the fourth UB player, and first since 2012, to earn First Team honors as she ranks fourth in the MAC in scoring (17.9 PPG). Stephanie Reid was the other UB player recognized as she earned All-MAC Third Team honors after a great season running the point for the Bulls. This was the first All-MAC recognition Reid has recieved and she was also named to the inagural All-MAC Defensive Team after a great season on the defensive end of the court with a team-high 58 steals.
17 AND COUNTING
With their win last night, the Bulls improved to 17-13 overall on the season and securing their third straight season with at least 17 wins under head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. The growth of the program has been huge since Legette-Jack has taken the reins and it has been evident in the win column for the Bulls. Prior to Coach Jack taking over, the Bulls had three seasons of 17 or more wins since 1999. In four seasons under Coach Jack, the Bulls have collected the same number of 17-win seasons as the previous 14 seasons. Coach Jack owns a career record of 65-59 at the helm of the Bulls. UB has also picked up at least eight conference wins in all four seasons under Coach Jack.
58 OR UNDER
The key to winning games this season for the Bulls has been their defensive prowess as they have held 10 opponents to 50 points or less this season, winning all 10 of those games. The key number all season long has been 58 as the Bulls own a perfect 14-0 record this season when holding their opponents to 58 points or less. The Bulls have done this in five of their last six games, winning those five. When UB gives up 58+ points, they are only 3-13 this season.
SMITH CONTINUES TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE
Junior guard Joanna Smith continued her strong play in the opening round of the MAC Tournament as she netted 16 points and snagged eight rebounds as she has now led the Bulls in scoring 23 times this season. On the year, she ranks fourth in the MAC in scoring (17.9 PPG) while also ranking second on the Bulls in rebounding (6.1 RPG). She also ranks second in the MAC in scoring in conference games (19.3 PPG) and third in three-pointers made (87). The sharp-shooter currently ranks 15th in the NCAA in three-pointers/game (2.9) and 15th in the NCAA in three-pointers made (87). 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 21 games. She now ranks third in program history for three-pointers made in a season (87) and 10th in career three-pointer made (106). In MAC play, Smith is averaging 19.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while playing a team-high 36.1 MPG. Smith has now recorded at least one three-pointer in 29 of 30 games this year and 3+ three-pointers in 18 of 30 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 finishing off the Bulls first round win over Bowling Green with eight points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals. In MAC play, Reid has played at another level as she is averaging 11.5 points, 5.3 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals while notching over five assists in 12 of the 18 conference games. Through 30 games this season, Reid has continued to prosper into one of the best point guards in the conference as she is averaging 10.2 points, 4.9 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals. The nifty point guard finished the regular season second in the MAC in assists/game in conference games (5.3 APG) and seventh in the MAC in steals/game (1.8 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.
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 (175) than last season (148). The Bulls surpassed last seasons three-point total and have at least one more game remaining. Joanna Smith leads the Bulls in three-pointers with a career-high 87 while Stephanie Reid ranks second on the team with 22 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 30 games this season and have notched 5+ three's in a game 22 times this season.
MORRISON GETS AFTER THE BOARDS
The Bulls have been looking for a consistent rebounding option after center Cassie Oursler and they have found just that in freshman Brittany Morrison. The forward continued to shine on the glass on Monday as she snagged a team-high eight rebounds while chipping in with four points. Since being inserted into the starting lineup six games ago, Morrison is averaging a team-high 7.8 rebounds and she has ripped down a team-best 21 offensive rebounds. On the year she is averaging 4.7 rebounds and 4.2 points.
BATTLE OF THE BOARDS
The Bulls have proved that one of their strengths this season is rebounding and in particular, offensive rebounding. The Bulls are currently averaging 40.4 rebounds per game including a MAC-leading 15.0 offensive rebounds per game. The Bulls have been hitting the offensive glass at a higher rate as of late as over their last eight games the Bulls are averaging 19.3 offensive boards while going 6-2 over that span. On the year, the Bulls have notched 27 games with at least 10 offensive rebounds. The Bulls are 14-4 on the year when winning the rebounding battle or being tied in rebounds and 2-9 when they are outrebounded.
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 16-2 record, with their last victory coming on Monday against Bowling Green. 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 15-1 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 16 of 30 games, winning 15 of the 16 games in which they shot a higher percentage. Last time out the Bulls were able to pull out a victory as they shot 38.2% from the floor compared to just 25.5% by the Bowling Green Falcons. On the year, the Bulls are shooting 36% from the floor while their opponents are shooting 37.1%.
