Comeback Falls Short as Bulls Drop MAC Opener to Kent State

Wednesday, January 3

Buffalo, NY

6:00pm

6-5,0-1MAC

Kent State

7-4,1-0MAC

Kent St.

Buffalo

Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UBBulls.com

Comeback Falls Short as Bulls Drop MAC Opener to Kent State

1/3/2024 8:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's basketball team (6-5, 0-1 MAC) put forth a valiant second half effort, but the comeback fell short as the Bulls dropped their Mid-American Conference opener to Kent State 73-64 on Wednesday evening at Alumni Arena.

Redshirt senior Chellia Watson set a new UB career-high with 31 points to lead all scorers while freshman Alexis Davis narrowly missed out on a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. Senior Rana Elhusseini also scored in double figures with 11 points, including 3-of-5 shooting from behind the arc.

The Flashes opened the game on a 7-0 run before Watson scored on back-to-back possessions to cut the lead to three, but Kent State continued to heat up from deep, knocking down a pair of threes, to take a 13-6 lead at the media timeout. Davis gave the Bulls a lift, scoring four straight points to pull UB within four at the 2:24 mark. The Flashes extended their lead on a pair of triples before Watson sliced to the basket and scored in the final seconds to cut the lead to 21-15 at the end of the first.

The Flashes opened the quarter on a 6-0 run to take a 12-point lead and force a UB timeout early in the second quarter. Kent State would go on to outscore the Bulls 20-5 to close the quarter and go up 41-20 lead at the half.

The Bulls came out aggressive to open the third quarter, using a 6-0 run to force an early KSU timeout. Buffalo then extended the run to eight, holding the visitors scoreless for over three minutes, but Kent State answered with a pair of second chance baskets to end the drought and put the Flashes up 47-33 lead at the media timeout, and they led 55-35 at the end of the third.

Buffalo continued to fight as Davis got an offensive rebound putback to go plus the foul and Elhusseini followed with a pair of threes that sparked a 9-4 run to cut the lead to 59-44 at the 7:36 mark of the fourth quarter. After the Flashes converted on a second chance three, the Bulls rattled off an 11-4 run, capped by a pair of triples from Elhusseini and Watson to cut the lead to nine at the final media timeout. Watson continued to attack as she sliced to the basket for a fastbreak layup to cut the lead to eight, but that would be as close as the UB would get as the rally fell short.

The Bulls held a 34-22 advantage in the paint and were able to get out and run, scoring 20 fastbreak points, but the Flashes edged Buffalo on the glass, including turning 11 offensive rebounds into 14 second chance points.

Up next, Buffalo embarks on a two-game road trip beginning on Saturday, January 6 as they travel to Mount Pleasant for a contest against the Central Michigan Chippewas. Tipoff from McGuirk Arena is set for 1pm.