Women's Hoops Welcomes Bowling Green On Senior Day On Saturday
2/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's basketball team (19-7, 9-6 MAC) will welcome the Bowling Green Falcons to Alumni Arena on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 pm. Prior to Saturday's MAC east showdown, the Bulls will honor their lone senior JoAnna Smith as part of senior day.
The game will air live on ESPN3 with Paul Peck and Amy Audibert on the call or it can be heard on ESPN1520 as Matt Mattia will get you ready for the action starting at 12:30 pm with the pre-game show.
UB WELCOMES BOWLING GREEN ON SENIOR DAY
Buffalo will close out their regular season home schedule on Saturday afternoon as they welcome the Bowling Green Falcons to Alumni Arena on Senbior Day for JoAnna Smith. The Falcons enter Saturday's game with a 7-20 overall record and a 3-12 MAC mark while the Bulls enter on a three-game winning streak as they push for a first round bye in the upcoming MAC Tournament. You can watch the game live on ESPN3 starting at 1:00 pm or you can tune your radio to ESPN1520 as Matt Mattia will be on the call starting at 12:30 pm with the pre-game show.
BULLS PICK UP HUGE HOME VICTORY OVER OHIO
Buffalo continued their strong play on the defensive end of the court on Wednesday night as they defeated the Ohio Bobcats 65-54 at Alumni Arena for their third straight win. The UB defense held the Bobcats to just 30.8% shooting as they improved to 15-0 on the year when holding their opponents to 59 points or less. Buffalo was powered by a huge performance by freshman Summer Hemphill who netted her fourth double-double of the season as she finished with 15 points and a career-high 17 rebounds in the win. Junior point guard Stephanie Reid continued her strong play for the Bulls as she netted a team-high 21 points, nine assists and five rebounds while moving into fourth place on the Bulls all-time assist charts with 433 career helpers. Senior JoAnna Smith continued her strong play as she finished with 18 points while playing all 40 minutes.
SENIOR DAY FESTIVITIES
Prior to Saturday afternoons regular season finale at Alumni Arena, the University at Buffalo athletics department and women's basketball program will honor their lone senior, JoAnna Smith, as part of Senior Day. Smith will be honored after a very successful UB career in which she will graduate as the winningest player in the Bulls Division I history. She has helped lead the Bulls to three straight seasons with at least 19 victories for the first time in program history.
FAMILIAR FOE
This marks the 36th meeting of all-time between the two programs with the Falcons owning a dominant 25-10 record against UB. Bowling Green was able to collect 20 straight wins from 2003-04 through 2013-14 but the Bulls have won six straight in the series including earlier this season in Bowling Green by the score of 61-50. Buffalo has also earned three straight wins at Alumni Arena against the Falcons by an average of 13.3 points/game.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Bulls will be home for their next two MAC games and this is a good sign as UB owns a 16-3 record at Alumni Arena over their last 19 games. Buffalo is 12-3 on their home court so far this season, tying the division I program record for home wins in a season (2000-01). Over the past 3+ seasons, UB owns a 38-17 record in from of their home crowd and they haven't lost more than five games in a season at Alumni Arena. At home this season, UB is averaging 71.4 points while allowing their opponents to average just 59.0 points and 35.8% shooting from the floor.
COACH JACK'S WINNING WAYS
Since head coach Felisha Legette-Jack took over the reins of the program prior to the 2012-13 campaign, the Bulls have turned into one of the premier teams in the Mid-American Conference. UB is 87-67 under Legette-Jack's watchful eye as they have accumulated at least 17 victories in each of the past four seasons. Buffalo notched their 19th win of the season on Wednesday and they have now recorded at least 19 wins in three straight seasons for the first time in program history. Upon graduation following this season, senior JoAnna Smith will be the winningest player in the Bulls division I era.
REID RANKS 3RD IN NCAA IN ASSISTS/GAME
Junior point guard Stephanie Reid has been facilitating at a high level since the start of the season and it is resulting in one of the best seasons by a point guard in UB history. The Australia native currently ranks 3rd in the NCAA in assists/game (7.5 APG) while leading the MAC. The junior has accumulated 196 assists through 26 games, a career-high and second most in a season in program history, just three assists shy of passing Ashely Zuber's program record for assists in a season. Last time out, Reid notched nine assists in the win over Ohio as she moved into fourth place on the Bulls all-time assists charts with 433 career assists. Reid is just the fifth player in UB history to accumulate 400 career assists Reid has seven games with 10+ assists, all of which coming within her last 16 games for the Bulls. She has registered 8+ assists on 13 ocassions this season. Earlier in the season, Reid tied the program record with 16 assists against Ball State while her 28 assists over a two-game stretch are the most in the NCAA this season and most in program history. In MAC games, Reid is averaging 8.5 assists/game.
BULLS RANK 12TH IN NATION IN OFFENSIVE REBOUNDING
Buffalo has been getting after the offensive glass all season long and this continued on Wednesday night as they snagged 15 offensive rebounds in the home win over Ohio. The Bulls turned those 15 offensive rebounds into 13 second chance points while they held the Bobcats to just six second chance points. UB has now won or tied the offensive rebounding battle in 21 of their 26 games this season. On the year, UB ranks 12th in the NCAA in offensive rebounds (16.5/game) and 16th in rebounds/game (43.1). Buffalo has held 21 opponents and 18 of their last 20, to 10 second chance points or less this season. The rebounding effort by the Bulls has been impressive as they are limiting their last 19 opponents to just 9.9 offensive rebounds/game while averaging 16.5 themselves.
CLEANING THE GLASS
One of the keys to the Bulls success this season has been winning the battle on the boards. UB was able to dominate the glass on Wednesday night for the third straight game as they outrebounded the Bobcats 45-35 in the victory. With the win, UB is 17-4 on the year and 34-8 over the past two seasons when winning or tying the rebounding battle. As a team, UB ranks 2nd in the MAC and 16th in the NCAA in rebounds per game (43.1/game).
SMITH PASSES SHARKEY ON ALL-TIME SCORING CHARTS
After becoming just the 23rd player in UB history to notch their 1,000th point at Ohio earlier this season, senior JoAnna Smith continued to score the basketball last time out as she netted 18 points vs. Ohio. The senior moved past former teammate and current assistant coach Kristen Sharkey into 8th place on UB's all-time scoring charts with the 18-point effort as she has now accumulated 1,271 career points. She is one of three players in UB history to score 1,000+ points in two seasons, joining Kourtney Brown and Tiffany Bell. Smith also sits in 3rd place on UB's all-time three pointers made charts with 188 career makes.
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 do this on Wednesday as they outshot the Bobcats 36.4% to 30.8% for the game and it resulted in an 11-point home win. With the win, the Bulls are 16-0 this season and 33-1 over the past two seasons when shooting a higher percentage from the floor than their opponents.
DEFENSE STRONG FOR THIRD STRAIGHT GAME
The strength of the Bulls over the past two seasons has been their defense and that strong defense has helped UB gather a 19-7 record on the season. The Buffalo defense put together their third straight strong outing as they held the Ohio Bobcats to just 30.8% shooting and 54 points in the win. Buffalo also forced 12 turnovers that they turned into 13 points. The Bulls rank 2nd in the MAC in scoring defense as they are allowing just 61.2 points/game. Buffalo is 42-7 over the last two seasons when holding their opponents under 70 points and are 18-0 when holding their opponents to scoring 50 points or less over the past two seasons. UB improved to 15-0 this season when holding their opponents to 59 points or less as they have held three straight under 59 points.
DOMINATE THE PAINT
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 16 of their 26 games this season. UB was edged out in the paint scoring on Wednesday night but they were still able to pull out the win over Ohio as the Bobcats led the paint scoring 26-24. On the year, UB holds a dominant 15-0 record when winning the battle of the paint. Buffalo is averaging 30.2 points while limiting their opponents to just 24.9 points inside the paint on the season.
RUNNING WITH THE BULLS
The Bulls have turned into one of the best fast break scoring teams in the country this season thanks in large part to the athleticism of this Buffalo roster. The Bulls tied this category, 4-4, on Wednesday night as they have won or tied the fast break scoring battle in 22 of their 26 games. On the season, UB owns the 230-93 edge in fast break scoring and are 18-4 when winning or tying this battle and just 1-3 when losing the fast break category. UB has won or tied the fast break category in 11 of their last 12 wins including their last eight wins.
PROTECTING THE THREE POINT LINE
The Bulls have turned into one of the best three point defense teams in the MAC as of late and that continued on Wednesday as they held the Ohio Bobcats to just 7-for-30 (23.3%) from behind the arc in the victory. Buffalo ranks 2nd in the conference and 11th in the NCAA allowing their opponents to shoot just 26.9% from behind the arc overall this season. In MAC play, UB ranks 2nd in three point defense as their opponents are shooting just 24.7%. Through 15 MAC games, the Buffalo defense is allowing just 4.2 triples against/game.
TURNING THEM OVER IN MAC PLAY
With just three conference games remaining, the UB defense has begun to take shape as they have turned into one of the best defenses in the conference in forcing turnovers. The stingy Buffalo defense ranks 4th in the MAC with a turnover margin of +1.5 in MAC play as they are forcing an average of 16.9 turnovers/game. Over their last nine games, UB is forcing an average of 17.8 turnovers while turning those into 16.4 points. The Bulls are second in the MAC averaging 9.5 steals/game as they have accumulated 143 steals in conference action.
JOANNA SMITH CONTINUES TO LEAD UB IN SCORING
Senior leading scorer JoAnna Smith put up another strong night on Wednesday as she netted 18 points, three rebounds and two steals while playing all 40 minutes in the win over Ohio. The Southaven, MS native finished the game going 3-for-6 from behind the arc as she has now connected on at least one three pointer in 59 of her last 62 games and at least three triples in 34 of her last 62 games. She has gone over the 20-point plateau in five of her last nine games for the Bulls. Smith sits in third place on the all-time three pointers made list with 188 makes in her career as she has proved to be one of the most dangerous deep range shooters in program history. Buffalo is 16-5 this season and 35-16 over the past two seasons when Smith scores at least 10 points in a game. On the season, Smith is averaging a team-best 16.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists and 1.6 steals while leading UB in scoring 14 times. The captain has surpassed the 20-point plateau nine times this season including seven times in her past 14 games for the Bulls. In MAC play, Smith ranks 4th in the conference in scoring as she is averaging 19.2 points while ranking 3rd in three pointers made with 46.
REID ALL ABOUT IT
Junior point guard Stephanie Reid continued her high level of play on Wednesday night in the 11-point win over Ohio as she led the Bulls in scoring for the second straight game as she finished with 21 points, nine assists and five rebounds across 40 minutes. Reid finished the game going 10-13 from the charity stripe, a career-high for free throws made. Reid moved into 2nd place in UB history for assists in a season (196), just three shy of breaking assistant coach Ashley Zuber's program record for assists in a season. She has recorded at least eight helpers in 13 of her last 19 games for the Bulls and at least 10 assists in seven of her last 16 contests. Her 28 assists over a two-game span (Ball State and Western Michigan) are the most in the NCAA this season and most in program history. The junior sits in 4th place on UB's all-time assists charts with 433 career assists, 18 assists shy of 3rd place on the list. Reid has reached double figures in scoring 16 times in her last 23 games and has surpassed the 20-point plateau a career-best three times this season. She has recorded at least one steal in 22 of 26 games and has notched multi-steal games 14 times this season including in five of her last eight games. The junior has at least four steals three times in her last seven games. Behind her recent strong play, Reid is averaging 10.6 points, 7.5 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals while ranking first in the MAC in assist/turnover ratio (3.2) and first in assists (7.5 APG). Through 15 MAC games, Reid is 1st in the MAC in assists per game (8.5/game) and first in assist/turnover ratio (3.8).
HEMPHILL COLLECTS MASSIVE DOUBLE-DOUBLE VS. OHIO
Freshman forward Summer Hemphill has shown flashes of greatness throughout this season and she exploded for a career game on Wednesday night against Ohio. The Buffalo native tied a career-high with 15 points while grabbing a career-high and UB freshman record 17 rebounds en route to her team-high fourth double-double of the season. The 17 rebounds were the most in a game since Kourtney Brown ripped down 18 against Toledo on January 27, 2010. Hemphill also recorded three blocks and two steals in the win as she has notched at least one block in 20 of her last 22 games and at least one steal in 16 of her 26 games this season. She currently ranks 4th in the MAC in field goal percentage (.562) and 6th in rebounding (7.7/game). Through 26 career games, Hemphill is averaging 6.8 points, a team-high 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 steals while leading UB in rebounding 14 times and notching double digits in rebounds five times. Her 2.6 offensive rebounds/game ranks 10th in the MAC so far this season.
CENTER OF ATTENTION
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 was able to put together her third straight strong game on Wednesday night as she finished the win with nine points, six rebounds and four blocks in just 21 minutes of work. On the season, Oursler is averaging 18.4 minutes, 8.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks while shooting 45.8% from the floor and 70.7% from the charity stripe. Oursler has recorded at least one block in 28 of her last 35 games and has notched at least two blocks in 19 of her 49 career starts. The junior ranks 14th in program history with 69 career rejections.
KATHERINE THE GREAT
Junior Katherine Ups has proved to be a key member of the Bulls all season long. The defensive-minded Ups has helped the Buffalo defense improve all season long as they are second in the conference in points allowed. With Ups in the starting lineup, the Bulls have accumulated a 14-2 record as she has been the glue player to a very strong and experienced roster. The junior finished off the win over Ohio with five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks across a season-high 32 minutes. On the season she is averaging 3.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists while starting 16 games at small forward.
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 204-of-268 attempts (76.1%), 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 14th in school history for free throw percentage (71.9%) as she has gone 187-for-260.
