Bulls Face Western Michigan in MAC Tournament Quarterfinals

Wednesday, March 9

Cleveland, OH

4:00pm

University at Buffalo

Western Michigan

Bulls Face Western Michigan in MAC Tournament Quarterfinals

3/8/2022 11:52:00 AM | Women's Basketball

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BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's basketball team will face #7 Western Michigan in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday. It is the third time the two programs will face off in the MAC Tournament with the last meeting coming on March 9, 2018 when the Bulls defeated the Broncos 85-53 in the 2018 MAC Tournament semifinals.

The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Dave Bacon (play-by-play) and Jacki Windon (color) announcing and can be heard on the radio on BET 1520 AM or on the Varsity Network with Matt Mattia on the call.

This is 29th meeting between Buffalo and Western Michigan with the Bulls owning the 16-12 series advantage. The Bulls are 7-4 in the last 11 games against the Broncos. Buffalo defeated WMU 87-66 at Alumni Arena last season.

Winners of six straight, Buffalo finished the regular season with a 22-8 overall record and 16-4 league mark after cruising to an 81-62 win over Bowling Green on Saturday. The victory tied a program-record with UB's 14^th home win and also tied the 2017-18 Sweet 16 team for the most Mid-American Conference wins in program history. The Mid-American Conference announced its postseason awards on Tuesday morning and the Bulls were well represented. Freshman Georgia Woolley was named MAC Freshman of the Year and to the All-MAC Third Team, junior guard Dyaisha Fair was named First Team All-MAC for the second straight year and Summer Hemphill earned a spot on the All-MAC Second Team and All-Defensive Team.

Fair leads the Bulls and ranks fourth in the nation in scoring at 23.1 points per game. Hemphill is averaging a double-double with 13.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game while freshman Georgia Woolley has scored in double figures in 22 of the last 25 games and is averaging 14.2 points per game. Buffalo is distributing the basketball at an excellent clip, averaging 15.3 assists per game and a 1.1 assist-to-turnover ratio, while also ranking 22^nd in the nation in rebounds per game (41.9). That leads to a potent offense which ranks 17^th in the nation in scoring (76.2 ppg). The Bulls are ranked 69^th in the latest NET rankings. They are also ranked 20^th in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 poll.

Western Michigan earned the No.7 seed in this year's tournament after finishing the regular season with a 16-13 overall and 10-10 league record. The Broncos are led offensively by Lauren Ross who earned Third Team All-MAC honors after averaging 19.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Taylor Williams (11.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg) and Reilly Jacobson (11.7 ppg and 5.4 rpg) are also averaging in double figures. Western Michigan is 12-3 this season in games they score before their opponent and have lost just once when it holds an advantage on the scoreboard at halftime (13-1). Additionally, the Broncos have done a great job closing out games and have won all 13 games this season when leading at the end of the third quarter. The Broncos bench has played a big factor this season as WMU has tied or led opponents in bench points in 17 different matchups.

The winner of Wednesday night's game will face the winner of #3 Akron and #6 Bowling Green in the second semifinal game on Friday. Tipoff is approximately 12:30pm.