Women's Hoops Heads To Bowling Green On Wednesday Night
1/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's basketball team (12-4, 2-3 MAC) will look to win their second straight road MAC game as they head to Bowling Green to take on the Falcons on Wednesday night. The Bulls are coming off of a 68-51 win over Miami on the road Saturday and will be looking to level their MAC mark at 3-3 with a victory.
Wednesday night's game will air live on ESPN3 or it can be heard on the radio on ESPN1520 with Matt Mattia hitting the airwaves at 6:30 pm with the pregame show.
BULLS LOOK TO FOR SECOND STRAIGHT ROAD WIN
After collecting their second MAC win of the season on Saturday at Miami, the Bulls will stay on the road on Wednesday night as they travel to Bowling Green to take on the Falcons. The Bulls and Falcons will meet for the first of their two meetings on Wednesday night at 7:00 pm at the Stroh Center. The game will air live on ESPN3.
UB ENDS THREE GAME SKID AT MIAMI
The Bulls got back to their winning ways on Saturday afternoon at Miami as they handed the RedHawks a 68-51 loss to snap their three-game losing streak. Buffalo was powered by their defense in the second half as they held the RedHawks to just 25.9% shooting in the second half. The Bulls went on a 18-0 run in the third quarter to put the game away. UB outshot Miami 38.8% to 31.7% while also dominating the glass to the tune of 60-28. Buffalo was able to grab a season-high 26 offensive rebounds and turned those chances into 22 second chance points. The Bulls were led offensively by JoAnna Smith who netted 22 points while Theresa Onwuka finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
FAMILIAR FOE
This marks the 35th meeting of all-time between the two programs with the Falcons owning a dominant 25-9 record against UB. Bowling Green was able to collect 20 straight wins from 2003-04 through 2013-14 but the Bulls have won five straight in the series. Buffalo was able to defeat the Falcons in all three meetings last season including in the MAC Tournament First Round in Buffalo by the score of 55-52. Buffalo defeated the Falcons at the Stroh Center last season by the score of 63-50.
SPREAD OFFENSE
One of the major strengths of the Bulls this season has been their depth at every position. The Bulls have played all 13 players in at least five games this season while 12 players have appeared in at least 12 games. Buffalo has seen 12 players net at least seven points in a game this season and they have been led in scoring by six different players through 16 games. UB has had at least eight players score in 14 of 16 games this season.
CLEANING THE GLASS
One of the keys to the Bulls success this season has been winning the battle on the boards and the Bulls continued to dominate the glass on Saturday as they collected 60 rebounds. The Bulls outrebounded the RedHawks 60-28, their biggest advatage this season and their most rebounds in a game since 2014. With the win, UB improved to 12-4 on the year and 29-8 over the past two seasons when winning or tying the rebounding battle. As a team, UB ranks 1st in the MAC and 10th in the NCAA in rebounds per game (44.6/game).
BULLS RANK 10TH IN NATION IN OFFENSIVE REBOUNDING
Buffalo has been getting after the offensive glass all season long and this continued on Saturday in the win over Miami. The Bulls gathered a season-high 26 offensive rebounds and they turned those chances into 22 second chance points. UB has now won the offensive rebounding battle in 14 of their 16 games this season. On the year, UB ranks 10th in the NCAA in offensive rebounds (18.0/game) and 7th in rebound margin (+11.6). UB is also averaging 14.2 second chance points/game so far this season while holding their opponents to an average of 7.4/game.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Last time out, Buffalo saw two players notch double-doubles for the first time in a game since 2014. Both double-doubles were achieved by freshmen as Theresa Onwuka and Summer Hemphill each notched their second double-doubles of the season. Onwuka finished with career-highs with 16 points and 11 rebounds while Hemphill netted 15 points and 12 rebounds. The two freshmen netting double-doubles marked the first time in Coach Jack's tenure that a pair of freshmen netted double-doubles in the same game.
SMITH CONTINUES TO RISE ALL-TIME SCORING CHARTS
After becoming just the 23rd player in UB history to notch their 1,000th point last week at Ohio, senior JoAnna Smith continued to score the basketball on Saturday night as she led UB in scoring. With her 22-point effort, Smith moved into 19th place on the all-time scoring charts. Smith sits just 23 points shy of 18th place and 29 points shy of 16th place on the all-time charts.
SHOOTING FOR THE STARS
One of the keys to success for the Bulls over the past couple of seasons under head coach Felisha Legette-Jack has been shooting a better percentage from the floor than their opponents. The Bulls were able to get back on track and win the shooting percentage battle on Saturday in the road win over Miami. Buffalo outshot the RedHawks 38.8% to 31.7% for the game and they collected a 17-point victory. UB is 10-0 this season and 27-1 over the past two seasons when shooting a higher percentage from the floor than their opponents.
PAINT SCORING KEY TO SUCCESS
Playing for a coach that dominated the paint throughout her very successful career, the talented Bulls have begun to take a page out of their coaches book as they have won the battle in the paint in 12 of their 16 games this season. UB was able to outscore the RedHawks 32-20 in the paint on Saturday as the Bulls snapped their three-game skid. The Bulls are 12-0 on the year when winning the battle in the paint as they are averaging 31.0 points while limiting opponents to just 22.9 points inside the paint.
NO SECOND CHANCES
The Bulls have turned into one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the nation while also limiting their opponents to limited second chance opportunities. Over their last nine games, the Bulls have limited their opponents to an average of 6.2 second chance points. UB held St. Bonaventure to zero second chance points earlier this season. The rebounding effort by the Bulls has been impressive as they are limiting their last seven opponents to just 8.1 offensive rebounds/game.
NOT YOUR AVERAGE JO
Senior leading scorer JoAnna Smith got back on track on Saturday at Miami as she was able to net a team-best 22 points and grab six rebounds in the win. The Southaven, MS native finished the game going 2-for-5 from behind the arc as she has now connected on at least one three pointer in 50 of her last 52 games and at least three triples in 27 of her last 52 games. Smith sits in fourth place on the all-time three pointers made list with 155 makes in her career and she is now just six threes shy of third place on the list. Buffalo is 10-3 this season and 29-14 over the past two seasons when Smith scores at least 10 points in a game. On the season, Smith is averaging a team-best 14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists and 1.5 steals while leading UB in scoring eight times. The captain has went over the 20-point plateau four times this season.
REID ALL ABOUT IT
Junior point guard Stephanie Reid had a rare off game scoring the ball on Saturday as she was only able to net two points in the win over Miami. The Australia native was very effective defensively and controlled the pace of the game as she finished with five assists, five rebounds and a steal in 30 minutes of work. She has recorded at least eight helpers in in six of her last nine games for the Bulls and 10 assists in three of her last six contests. Reid currently sits in 7th place on the all-time assist chart with 342 career helpers and she is now just 18 shy of 6th place (Margeaux Gupilan) on the all-time charts. The junior has reached double figures in scoring eight times in her last 13 games. The crafty defender ranks 9th in the MAC averaging 2.0 SPG after notching one theft last time out. Behind her recent strong play, Reid is averaging 8.7 points, 6.6 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals while ranking first in the MAC in assist/turnover ratio (2.8) and third in assists (6.6 APG). Through five MAC games, Reid ranks second in assists per game (7.4/game).
ONWUKA MAKING MAJOR STRIDES IN STARTING ROLE
Freshman Theresa Onwuka has continued to improve and earn the trust of the UB coaching staff through 16 games this season. The lengthy guard was awarded for her strong play with her third straight start on Saturday and she produced in a big way in the win over Miami. Onwuka was one of the best players on the court Saturday as she finished with her second career double-double with a career-high 16 points and 11 rebounds in 36 minutes of action. The freshman has now went over the 20 minutes played mark five times in her last six games. On the year, the Nigeria native is averaging 15.7 MPG, 5.7 PPG, 3.1 RPG and 0.9 SPG through 16 career games. She has scored in double figures in four of the five MAC games as she is averaging 11.2 points and 6.6 rebounds against MAC foes.
HEMPHILL BLOSSOMING INTO A STAR
Freshman forward Summer Hemphill has shown flashes of greatness through her first 16 games and because of those flashes she was awarded with her third straight start on Saturday afternoon. The Buffalo native didn't disappoint in her third straight start as she netted her second career double-double as she finished with a career-high 15 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in the win at Miami. Hemphill went 6-for-8 from the floor and currently ranks third in the MAC in field goal percentage (58.5%). The freshman continues to cause problems for opposing teams with her length at the top of the Buffalo press while also settling in defensively as she has notched at least one block in 13 straight games and has recorded at least one steal in 11 of 16 games. She has also notched two blocks in seven of her last 13 games as her quick leaping ability has caused problems for opposing bigs. Through 16 career games, Hemphill is averaging 7.5 points, a team-high 7.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.3 blocks while notching double digit rebounds a team-best three times this season. Her 2.8 offensive rebounds/game ranks 7th in the MAC so far this season. Through five MAC games, Hemphill is averaging 7.8 points, 9.4 rebounds (4th in the MAC) and 1.6 blocks (4th in the MAC).
DOMINANT WHEN ON THE FLOOR
Junior center Cassie Oursler has proved to be one of the most dominant post players in the conference when she is able to stay out of foul trouble. Oursler wasn't able to get going offensively on Saturday as she was only able to score two points and two rebounds in seven minutes of action. On the season, Oursler is averaging 18.5 minutes, 9.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks while shooting 46.6% from the floor and 65.6% from the charity stripe. Dating back to last season, Oursler has scored in double figures in 12 of her last 23 games while recording at least one block in 21 of 26 as she has turned into a defensive stopper inside the paint for UB. Oursler has notched 14 multi-block games in her 40 career outings.
THE PINE IS FINE
The Buffalo bench has been strong all season and they continued their strong play on Saturday. Despite only producing 11 points off the bench, the Bulls reserves played key minutes in the win over Miami. UB outscored the RedHawks bench 11-9 for the game. UB is 11-2 on the year when their bench outscores their opponents bench. UB is getting an average of 24.5 PPG out of their bench players on the season.
RUNNING WITH THE BULLS
The Bulls haven't been known to be a team that likes to get out on the fast break and run but that trend has begun to change this season with the addition of some athletic and talented freshman. The Bulls continued to dominate this category on Saturday as they held the 9-4 edge in fast break scoring. On the season, UB owns the 137-47 edge in fast break scoring and are 11-2 when winning the fast break category.
CHARITY STRIPE PROWESS
Having a point guard who can shoot free throws at a high percentage is a major plus for teams hoping to compete for championships and Buffalo has just that in junior Stephanie Reid. The Melbourne, Australia native has been great at the charity stripe for the Bulls over her career as she has made 160-of-211 attempts (75.8%), ranking seventh in program history for free throw percentage. Senior JoAnna Smith has also been a great free throw shooter over her UB career as she ranks 15th in school history for free throw percentage (71.3%) as she has gone 171-for-240.
SHARING MINUTES
The depth of the Bulls has been a strength all season long and it has helped UB produce a 12-4 record to start the season. All 13 UB players are averaging at least 5.6 minutes of action a game while only three UB players are averaging at least 20 minutes/game. The Bulls have 11 players averaging at least 8.5 minutes/game while JoAnna Smith's playing time went from 34.4 minutes/game last season to 29.3 minutes/game this year, helping the senior stay fresh for another late season run.
