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Bulls Look To Bounce Back At Central Michigan On Saturday Afternoon
1/6/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's basketball team (11-2, 1-1 MAC) aims to get back on track after suffering a road loss to Ohio on Wednesday night as they travel to Mount Pleasant, MI to take on the Central Michigan Chippewas. Tip Saturday is set for 1:00 pm at McGuirk Arena and will air live on ESPN3.
BULLS LOOK FOR BOUNCE BACK AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN
After suffering their first conference loss of the season, the UB women's basketball team hits the road for another tough test as they travel to Central Michigan. The Bulls will take on the Chippewas in a MAC Championship rematch from a season ago. The Bulls won both meetings with Central Michigan last season but the Chippewas will be looking for revenge on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 pm.
OHIO HANDS BUFFALO ROAD LOSS
Buffalo was handed their biggest loss of the season on Wednesday night on the road at preseason MAC favorite Ohio as they were downed 83-55. The Bulls had a slow start as they trailed 17-2 after the first quarter, and they weren't able to claw their way back into the game. The Bobcats were able to shoot 54.0% from the floor and 53.8% from behind the arc in the game while notching a season-high 14 three pointers. The lone bright spot for the Bulls was the play of senior JoAnna Smith who was able to net a season-high 29 points and five three pointers in the loss. Smith went over 1,000 career points in the game as she became just the 23rd player to do so in UB women's basketball history.
FAMILIAR FOE
The Bulls and Chippewas are no strangers as the two MAC squads will be facing off for the 21st time in their history. The two sides are 10-10 against each other after the Bulls won both meetings last season including a buzzer-beating MAC Championship victory over the Chippewas at Quicken Loans Arena last season.
ROAD WARRIORS
Dating back to last season, the Bulls are 8-4 over their last 12 road games including a 3-2 mark this season. The Bulls are averaging 63.5 points/game on the road while allowing their opponents to score 63.3 PPG. The Bulls were just handed their biggest road loss in the stretch last time out at Ohio, 83-55.
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 nine games. Buffalo has seen 11 players net at least seven points in a game this season and they have been led in scoring by five different players through 13 games. UB has had at least eight players score in 11 of 13 games this season.
CLEANING THE GLASS
One of the keys to the Bulls success this season has been winning the battle on the boards but this didn't prove true on Wednesday. The Bulls won the battle of the boards 35-29 but were handed a 28-point loss by Ohio. With the loss, UB dropped to 11-2 on the year and 28-6 over the past two seasons when winning or tying the rebounding battle. The Bulls were able to collect 14 offensive and turn those into 10 points. On the year, UB ranks 10th in the NCAA in rebounding margin (+12.0), 13th in offensive rebounds (17.0/game) and 16th in rebounds (44.8/game). UB is also averaging 14.8 second chance points/game so far this season while holding their opponents to an average of 6.8/game.
SMITH NETS 1,000TH CAREER POINT
Entering Wednesday's game needing just six points to enter the Bulls 1,000-point club, senior JoAnna Smith netted her sixth point of the game in the second quarter to become the 23rd member of the club. The Southaven, MS native has netted 800 of her 1,023 career points over the last season and a half. Smith currently sits in 21st place on UB's all-time scoring charts.
THE PINE IS FINE
The Buffalo bench has been strong all season long but this didn't continue on Wednesday as the Bobcats bench outplayed Buffalo's to the tune of 29-13 points scored. Freshman Summer Hemphill led all UB bench players with six points while Courtney Wilkins netted three points, Gabi Bade netted two and Ayoleka Sodade netted two. UB is now 10-1 on the year when their bench outscores their opponents bench. UB is getting an average of 26.5 PPG out of their bench players on the season.
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 weren't able to win this category on Wednesday and it resulted in a loss. The Bobcats outshot the Bulls 54.0%-32.1% as they ran away with a 28-point victory. UB is 9-0 this season and 26-1 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 13 games this season. The Bulls are 11-2 on the year when winning the battle in the paint as they are averaging 31.2 points while limiting opponents to just 21.2 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 limit second chance opportunities. Over their last five games, the Bulls have limited their opponents to just an average of 5.0 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 five opponents to just 7.9 offensive rebounds/game.
SHARING MINUTES
The depth of the Bulls has been a strength all season long and it has helped UB produce a 11-2 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 12 players averaging at least 9.0 minutes/game while JoAnna Smith's playing time went from 34.4 minutes/game last season to 28.2 minutes/game this year, helping the senior stay fresh for another late season run.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
The strength of the Bulls over the past two seasons has been their defense and that has helped UB gather a 11-2 record to start the season. The Buffalo defense didn't have their best performance of the season against Ohio as the Bobcats shot 54% from the floor and 53.8% from behind the arc in the loss. UB was able to force just 11 turnovers and scored 12 points off of those turnovers in the defeat. The Bulls also lead the MAC in scoring defense as they are holding opponents to 57.2 points/game. Buffalo is 35-7 over the last two seasons when holding their opponents under 70 points and are 15-0 when holding their opponents to scoring 50 points or less over the past two seasons. UB is also 8-0 this season when holding their opponents to 59 points or less.
NOT YOUR AVERAGE JO
Senior JoAnna Smith was the lone bright spot for the Bulls on Wednesday night in the loss to Ohio as she was able to net a season-high 29 points. Smith got hot in the third quarter for UB as she was able to net 15 of her 29 while netting all five three pointers in the second half. The Southaven, MS native finished the game going 9-for-21 while also going 5-for-12 from behind the arc as she has now connected on at least one three pointer in 47 of her last 49 games and at least three triples in 27 of her last 49 games. Smith sits in fourth place on the all-time three pointers made list with 149 makes in her career and she is now just 12 threes shy of third place on the list. Buffalo is 9-1 this season and 28-12 over the past two seasons when Smith scores at least 10 points in a game. On the season, Smith is averaging a team-best 13.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists and 1.5 steals while leading UB in scoring six times.
REID ALL ABOUT IT
Junior point guard Stephanie Reid had a rare off game for the Bulls on Wednesday as the offense couldn't get going against the Bobcats offense. Reid finished with just four points, four assists and three rebounds across 32 minutes of work. Reid currently sits in 8th place on the all-time assist chart with 319 career helpers. She is now just 11 shy of 7th place on the all-time charts. The Australian native has reached double figures in scoring six times in her last 10 games. The crafty defender ranks 12th in the MAC averaging 1.9 SPG. Behind her recent strong play, Reid is averaging 8.8 points, 6.3 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.9 steals while ranking second in the MAC in assist/turnover ratio (2.6) and third in assists (6.3 APG).
FRESHMAN PHENOM
Freshman forward Summer Hemphill has shown flashes of greatness through her first 13 games. The freshman came off the bench on Wednesday and had a strong game as she netted six points and a team-best eight rebounds to go along with two blocks, one steal and one assist. Hemphill went 2-for-5 from the floor and currently ranks third in the MAC in field goal percentage (60.7%). The Buffalo native 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 10 straight games and has recorded at least one steal in nine of 13 games. The freshman has notched two blocks in six of her last 10 games. Through 13 career games, Hemphill is averaging 7.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks. Her 2.5 offensive rebounds/game ranks 10th in the MAC so far this season as she has caused problems on the glass with her quick leaping ability.
OURSLER IMRPOVING ON THE BLOCK
Junior center Cassie Oursler got into some foul trouble on Wednesday on the road at Ohio as she was only able to net six points and three rebounds across 12 minutes. On the season, Oursler is averaging 19.5 minutes, 9.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks while shooting 47.0% from the floor and 68.0% from the charity stripe. Dating back to last season, Oursler has scored in double figures in 11 of her last 20 games while recording at least one block in 19 of 23 as she has turned into a defensive stopper inside the paint for UB. Oursler has notched 14 multi-block games in her 37 career outings.
BAD(E) TO THE BONE
Sophomore Gabi Bade has proved to be a legitamate scoring threat off the Buffalo bench over her two-year career. The Milpitas, CA native had a quiet game on Wednesday as she was only able to grab a rebound in nine minutes of work against the Bobcats. Bade is having a career year for UB as she is averaging 16.4 minutes, 5.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists while also netting a career-high 16 points earlier in the season. UB is 3-0 this season and 5-1 over the past two seasons when Bade nets at least 10 points.
TRUST IN ONWUKA CONTINUES TO GROW
Freshman Theresa Onwuka has continued to improve and earn the trust of the UB coaching staff through 13 games this season. The lengthy guard finished off the game against Ohio with two points, four rebounds and an assist across 21 minutes of action. The freshman has now went over the 20 minutes played mark twice in her last three games. Onwuka has now seen the floor for 10 minutes or more in seven games this season. On the year, Onwuka is averaging 12.7 MPG, 3.6 PPG, 1.9 RPG and 0.7 SPG through 13 career games.
SODADE'S PLAYING TIME INCREASING
After a strong finish to her freshman campaign, sophomore Ayoleka Sodade has continued to grow into a strong bench player for the Bulls this season. The sophomore played 12 minutes in the loss to Ohio Wednesday and produced two points and an assist. Sodade has seen an increase in playing minutes over the last eight games as she is averaging 10.4 minutes/game and the Bulls have gone 6-2 in those games. Sodade has been in double figures in minutes six times in her last eight games. On the year, Sodade is averaging 9.3 minutes, 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds while being a strong on ball defender.
TURNING THEM OVER
Through their first 13 games, the Bulls have won the points off turnovers category nine times and they won each of those nine games. On Wednesday, UB was outscored 21-12 in points off of turnovers as they fell at Ohio. The Bulls forced just 11 Bobcat turnovers while the Bulls turned it over 18 times. On the year, UB is forcing an average of 17.5 turnovers/game while turning those turnovers into an average of 19.5 PPG.
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 early on this season with the addition of some athletic and talented freshman. The Bulls were able to win the fast break category once again in Wednesday's loss at Ohio, 2-0. On the season, UB owns the 116-33 edge in fast break scoring.
PROGRAM RECORD START COMES TO AN END
With their loss to Harvard last Friday in the Fordham Holiday Classic Championship game, the Bulls program record start came to an end at 10-0. The previous program record for best start to a season was in 2000-01 when UB started off 8-0 before their first loss. Prior to Friday's loss, only UConn (20) had a better record over their last 20 games than Buffalo (18-2). UB currently sits at #40 in the latest RPI polls while earning a program best RPI of #12 earlier this season. RPI stands for Rating Percentage Index which is a quantity used to rank basketball teams based upon a team's wins, losses and strength of schedule.
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 156-of-205 attempts (76.1%), ranking seventh in program history for free throw percentage.
