Bulls Earn First MAC Win, Defeat Central Michigan 70-63 on Saturday

Saturday, January 7

Buffalo, NY

2:30pm

6-5,1-1MAC

Central Michigan

3-10,1-1MAC

Central Mich.

Buffalo

Bulls Earn First MAC Win, Defeat Central Michigan 70-63 on Saturday

1/7/2023 5:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's basketball team (6-5, 1-1 MAC) dominated defensively for three quarters and withstood a second half run by the visitors to pick up their first Mid-American Conference win, defeating Central Michigan 70-63 on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Arena.

Three Bulls scored in double figures led by Re'Shawna Stone who had a monster game and flirted with a triple-double with a UB career-high 24 points, 10 rebounds and six assists while also adding three steals. Fellow fifth years Zakiyah Winfield and Jazmine Young also had great games, with the former recording her ninth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds and the later pouring in 13 points to go with six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Offense was at a premium in the early going as the teams were knotted 6-6 at the first media timeout. Buffalo then got things going as Kayla Salmons scored on two straight layups and Young knocked down a pull up jumper in the lane to put UB up 12-6 and force a CMU timeout at the 3:10 mark. Stone gave Buffalo a spark as she got a bucket plus the foul and then Perkins came up with a steal and hit Winfield for a fastbreak basket as the Bulls finished the quarter on 18-4 run to take a 24-10 lead at the end of the first.

The teams traded baskets early in the second quarter before CMU used a mini 4-0 run to cut the Buffalo lead to 27-16 at the media timeout. The Bulls continued to attack as Hattie Ogden grabbed an offensive board and hit Latrice Perkins for a layup and later, Emerita Mashaire blew by her defender for an easy layup to put UB up 15 at the 3:22 mark. CMU used a 5-0 run to cut the lead to 10, but Stone came up with a steal and scored in transition and then hit a deep three at the buzzer to give the Bulls a 39-21 lead at the half. CMU's 21 points were tied for the fewest points allowed in a half by UB this season.

Central Michigan opened the third quarter on a 12-2 run before Stone drove to the basket and finished off glass and later, Young got the ball on the wing and drilled a triple, but the Chippewas answered with their third triple of the quarter to extend their run to 21-7 and cut the UB lead to 46-42 at the media timeout. CMU continued to click offensively as they took their first lead of the game, 47-46, at the 2:31 mark before Ogden hit a three off the assist from Mashaire and later, Young got a layup in traffic to tie the game at 51 but the Chippewas scored on back-to-back possessions to take a 55-51 lead at the end of the third.

Stone hit a corner three on UB's first possession of the fourth quarter and later, after a pair of free throws by Young, Stone hit another triple to put UB up 59-57 at the 7:39 mark. CMU retook the lead on a layup at the six-minute mark before Perkins got a steal and she and Stone converted a give-and-go fastbreak layup to tie the game at 61 at the final media timeout. Winfield continued to attack as she grabbed a rebound and raced up the floor for a fastbreak layup and then Stone drilled another big three from the top of the key to put UB up 66-61 with 2:08 remaining and that would be enough as Winfeld sealed the victory from the charity stripe, converting four straight free throws in the final minute of play.

Buffalo turned defense into offense once again as they scored 19 points off CMU turnovers and added 16 fastbreak points. UB had a much-improved effort at the charity stripe as they finished 11-of-13 from the line on the day.

Up next, Buffalo travels to Athens, Ohio for a clash with the Ohio Bobcats on Wednesday, January 11. Tipoff at the Convocation Center is set for 7pm.