Saturday, December 30
Buffalo, NY
12:00pm
University at Buffalo
vs
Maryland Eastern Shore
Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UBBulls.com
Bulls Conclude Non-Conference Action on Saturday
12/29/2023 10:17:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's basketball team closes out the non-conference portion of the schedule on Saturday as they welcome Maryland Eastern Shore to Alumni Arena for an afternoon matinee at 12pm.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Paul Peck (play-by-play) and Matt Mattia (color) announcing and can be heard on the radio on 1520 AM or on the Varsity Network with Jack Kreuzer on the call.
This is the sixth overall meeting between Buffalo and UMES with the Bulls owning a 5-0 record, most recently a 69-63 win at Alumni Arena in the season opener on November 11, 2018.
A late rally wasn't enough as Buffalo fell to Le Moyne 66-61 on December 16. Redshirt senior guard Chellia Watson led UB with a game-high 20 points to go with five rebounds and five assists. Senior Rana Elhusseini recorded a UB career-high with 16 points on five made threes, while freshman Kirsten Lewis-Williams also scored in double figures with 15 points.
Watson leads the Bulls offensively at 20.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Lewis-Williams currently ranks 13th in the MAC in scoring (12.7 ppg) and ninth in rebounding (6.0 rpg) and is first among all rookies in the league in both categories. Elhusseini (10.1 ppg, 3.1 apg) is also averaging in double figures while sophomore Hattie Ogden (8.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and freshman Alexis Davis (7.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg) have been impact players for UB.
As a team, Buffalo leads the MAC in field goal percentage (.438) and field goal defense (.371) and is ranked in the top three in scoring defense (62.6), scoring margin (+4.6), 3FG defense (29.3) and rebounding defense (35.8).
The Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks are 6-6 overall after falling at VCU 59-36 on December 20. The Hawks are balanced offensively, led by Arianna Seawell who leads the team in scoring and rebounding at 12.3 ppg and 6.9 rpg. Mya Thomas (10.1 ppg, 2.5 apg) is also averaging in double figures while Zamara Haynes (9.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and Ja'la Bannerman (9.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg) are also main contributors. UMES ranks in the top three in the MEAC in scoring offense (60.8), 3FG% (30.1), 3FG defense (30.4), free throw percentage (69.0), offensive rebounds per game (13.6), rebounding defense (35.5), rebound margin (+0.7) and assists per game (11.2).
Coming off last year's 10-20 overall record and 5-9 mark in the MEAC, the Hawks were picked to finish fourth in the preseason coaches poll. The Hawks return 11 players from last year's roster while welcoming three newcomers. Fred Batchelor, the winningest coach in program history, enters his 19th season at the helm of the Hawks. Batchelor began his career at Buffalo State where he went 40-14 over two seasons, leading the Bengals to the DIII NCAA Tournament in 2001-2002.
Up next, Buffalo will open Mid-American Conference play on Wednesday, January 3 as they welcome Kent State to Alumni Arena for a 6pm contest.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Paul Peck (play-by-play) and Matt Mattia (color) announcing and can be heard on the radio on 1520 AM or on the Varsity Network with Jack Kreuzer on the call.
This is the sixth overall meeting between Buffalo and UMES with the Bulls owning a 5-0 record, most recently a 69-63 win at Alumni Arena in the season opener on November 11, 2018.
A late rally wasn't enough as Buffalo fell to Le Moyne 66-61 on December 16. Redshirt senior guard Chellia Watson led UB with a game-high 20 points to go with five rebounds and five assists. Senior Rana Elhusseini recorded a UB career-high with 16 points on five made threes, while freshman Kirsten Lewis-Williams also scored in double figures with 15 points.
Watson leads the Bulls offensively at 20.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Lewis-Williams currently ranks 13th in the MAC in scoring (12.7 ppg) and ninth in rebounding (6.0 rpg) and is first among all rookies in the league in both categories. Elhusseini (10.1 ppg, 3.1 apg) is also averaging in double figures while sophomore Hattie Ogden (8.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and freshman Alexis Davis (7.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg) have been impact players for UB.
As a team, Buffalo leads the MAC in field goal percentage (.438) and field goal defense (.371) and is ranked in the top three in scoring defense (62.6), scoring margin (+4.6), 3FG defense (29.3) and rebounding defense (35.8).
The Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks are 6-6 overall after falling at VCU 59-36 on December 20. The Hawks are balanced offensively, led by Arianna Seawell who leads the team in scoring and rebounding at 12.3 ppg and 6.9 rpg. Mya Thomas (10.1 ppg, 2.5 apg) is also averaging in double figures while Zamara Haynes (9.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and Ja'la Bannerman (9.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg) are also main contributors. UMES ranks in the top three in the MEAC in scoring offense (60.8), 3FG% (30.1), 3FG defense (30.4), free throw percentage (69.0), offensive rebounds per game (13.6), rebounding defense (35.5), rebound margin (+0.7) and assists per game (11.2).
Coming off last year's 10-20 overall record and 5-9 mark in the MEAC, the Hawks were picked to finish fourth in the preseason coaches poll. The Hawks return 11 players from last year's roster while welcoming three newcomers. Fred Batchelor, the winningest coach in program history, enters his 19th season at the helm of the Hawks. Batchelor began his career at Buffalo State where he went 40-14 over two seasons, leading the Bengals to the DIII NCAA Tournament in 2001-2002.
Up next, Buffalo will open Mid-American Conference play on Wednesday, January 3 as they welcome Kent State to Alumni Arena for a 6pm contest.
Players Mentioned
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