Bulls Grind Out 58-51 Win Over Bucknell on Tuesday

Tuesday, December 20

Buffalo, NY

6:00pm

4-4,0-0MAC

Bucknell

4-7,0-0Patriot

Bucknell

Buffalo

Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UBBulls.com

Bulls Grind Out 58-51 Win Over Bucknell on Tuesday

12/20/2022 8:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's basketball battled all night long and used a big fourth quarter run to earn a hard-fought 58-51 win over Bucknell on Tuesday night at Alumni Arena.

Three Bulls scored in double figures, led by Jazmine Young with 16 points. Fifth year guard Zakiyah Winfield recorded her third straight double=double and sixth of the year with 15 points and 13 rebounds to go with three assists and three steals. Fellow fifth year backcourt mate Re'Shawna Stone also scored in double figures with 13 points to go with four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

It was a sluggish start for both teams as Bucknell led 10-5 at the first media timeout. The Bison extended their lead to 10 out of the media timeout before Young made a layup off the feed from Winfield and later Stone hit Kayla Salmons on the block for an easy two off glass. The Bulls then pulled within two as Young knocked down a deep triple and then later got a layup to fall through contact, but UB gave up a layup at the buzzer as Bucknell led 18-14 at the end of the first.

The teams traded baskets early in the second quarter before Winfield got a layup plus the foul and Emerita Mashaire hit Stone on the wing for three to pull UB within one at the 6:35 mark. Bucknell knocked down a three, but Latrice Perkins answered with a steal and fastbreak bucket and then later Stone raced up the floor for a coast-to-coast layup as the Bulls trimmed the Bucknell lead to 28-26 at the media timeout. Both offenses stalled before Young knocked down a midrange jumper and then converted a pair of free throws in the final seconds to tie the game at 30 at the break.

The defenses continued to shine as the Bison held the Bulls scoreless for the opening five minutes of the third quarter to take a 34-30 lead at the media timeout. Young gave the Bulls a much-needed spark knocking down a big three and later, Winfield stopped and dropped a midrange jumper to give UB its first lead since the opening possession of the game. The Bulls extended the run to 10-0 on an and-one bucket from Stone and a layup from Winfield to take a 40-34 lead at the end of the third.

The Bison opened the fourth quarter on a 5-0 run before Stone drove by her defender and laid it off glass to limit the damage. Later, Stone drove baseline and found Winfield on the block for two and then Young came up with the loose ball and drained a midrange jumper to give the Bulls a 46-44 lead at the 5:20 mark. Mashaire hit a big triple from the top of the key on UB's first possession out of the break and then Winfield grabbed an offensive rebound and converted the putback layup to give UB a 51-44 lead and force a Bucknell timeout at the 3:06 mark. The Bulls continued to attack as Young euro-stepped through the lane for a basket and then Stone came up with a steal and finished on the other end to cap a 16-0 run and give UB a 58-44 lead and that would be all the Bulls would need to secure the victory.

For the second straight game, Buffalo turned defense into offense as they scored 18 fastbreak points while adding 10 steals and 21 points off 21 Bison turnovers. UB also scored 18 points in the paint.

"Our defensive effort tonight was flat out elite," said head coach Becky Burke. "Bucknell is a very good team with an extremely hard system to guard. We rose to the challenge and took them out of everything they wanted to do offensively. I am so proud of this team for continuing to come every single day and work their tails off and we are playing great basketball because of that."

Buffalo will take a short break for the holidays before returning to action on Wednesday, December 28 as they travel to St. Bonaventure for a clash with the Bonnies in the non-conference finale. Tipoff from the Reilly Center is set for 4pm.