Bulls Battle Back For 77-55 Win at Akron

Wednesday, February 3

Akron, OH

7:00 pm

10-5,7-3MAC

Akron

4-10,1-10MAC

Buffalo

Akron

Bulls Battle Back For 77-55 Win at Akron

2/3/2021 9:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

AKRON, OH – The University at Buffalo women's basketball team rallied from a 16-point first half deficit to defeat Akron 77-55 on National Women and Girls in Sports Day at James A. Rhodes Arena on Wednesday night.

Buffalo was led by sophomore Dyaisha Fair who scored a game-high 24 points. Junior forward Zena Elias recorded her first career double-double with a career-high 11 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Sophomore Elea Gaba also scored in double figures with 15 points.

It was a sluggish start for the Bulls as Akron opened the game on a 20-4 run before back-to-back baskets by Young and Fair cut the Zips lead to 20-9 at the end of the first quarter.

The Bulls would start to find some rhythm to start the second quarter as Fair knocked down a spot up three to cap a 7-2 UB run and force a Zips timeout at the 7:28 mark. Buffalo extended the run to 11-2, taking advantage of a five-plus Zips scoring drought, to cut the Akron lead to 22-20 at the 5:11 mark. The Bulls would tie the game 24-24 on a free throw from Elias and later, Gaba got a great feed from Fair and converted in the final seconds to give Buffalo a 28-26 lead at the break.

The two teams would trade baskets to start the third quarter before the Bulls ripped off an 8-1 run, capped by back-to-back baskets by Keowa Walters, to take a 38-31 lead at the five minute mark. Walters would continue to attack as she knocked down a step-back jumper in the paint and later, Jessika Schiffer spotted up for three, to give UB a 45-33 lead at the 2:23 mark and Buffalo would take a 49-39 lead at the end of three quarters of play.

Schiffer continued to heat up from deep to start the fourth quarter as she knocked down a triple from the top of the key to give UB a 54-51 lead, and force a Zips timeout at the 8:14 mark. The Bulls then scored on their next four possessions, including six points from Fair, to take a 61-47 lead at the 6:25 mark and the Zips would get no closer than 16 as Buffalo closed the game on a 10-4 run, capped by a three-pointer from Casey Valenti-Paea in her first minutes as a Bull, to seal the victory.

The 16-point deficit was the largest overcome by the Bulls this season. Buffalo is now a perfect 51-0 over the last four-plus years when holding opponents to 59 points or less, including 3-0 this season. The Bulls once again won the battle in the paint 38-26 and outrebounded the Zips 49-45, including 16 offensive rebounds which UB turned into 15 second chance points. Buffalo also scored 24 points off of 19 Akron turnovers.

"What a great team win," said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "Our backs were against the wall but when I looked out on the floor no one showed any signs of panic. More players are stepping up at the right time. I can't say enough about how Jazmine, Zena and Keowa stepped up off the bench and they are complimenting the ones who are doing well. It's not a one-person team. It's our family against their team."

Buffalo returns to action on Saturday, February 6, as they welcome Eastern Michigan to Alumni Arena at 1pm in the first game of a doubleheader with the UB men.