Wednesday, January 10
Muncie, IN
6:30pm
at
Ball State
Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UBBulls.com
Bulls Set for Battle with Ball State on Wednesday
1/9/2024 11:11:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's basketball team closes its road swing on Wednesday as they travel to Muncie for a clash with the Ball State Cardinals. Tipoff from Worthen Arena is set for 6:30pm.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Mick Tidrow (play-by-play) and Shelby Farwig (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 37th overall meeting between Buffalo and Ball State with the Cardinals owning a 20-16 series advantage. The Cardinals defeated the Bulls in the lone meeting of the season a year ago.
Buffalo defeated Central Michigan 77-69 for their first MAC win on Saturday afternoon at McGuirk Arena. Four Bulls scored in double figures, led by Chellia Watson who scored a game-high 26 points to go with a team-high eight rebounds. Senior Rana Elhusseini was perfect on the afternoon, going 5-for-5 from the floor, including 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, for 15 points to go with a team-best four assists. Freshman Kirsten Lewis-Williams scored 15 points to go with six rebounds while sophomore Hattie Ogden also scored in double figures with 13 points, including 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc.
Watson leads MAC and ranks in the top 10 in the nation in scoring at 22.3 points per game to go with 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest, while also shooting 45.6% from three-point range, which puts her in the top 20 nationally. Lewis-Williams currently ranks 13th in the MAC in scoring (12.3 ppg) and 12th in rebounding (6.1 rpg), which is first among all rookies in the league in both categories. Elhusseini (9.9 ppg, 3.2 apg) and Ogden (9.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg) continue to be impact players for UB.
As a team, Buffalo is ranked in the top three in the MAC in scoring offense (67.9), scoring defense (63.8), field goal percentage (.429), field goal defense (.376) and three-point field goal percentage (.352). The Bulls are averaging 32.3 points per game in the paint while also scoring 10.0 ppg in transition, and are turning defense into offense, averaging 16 points per contest off opponent's turnovers.
Winners of six straight, the Ball State Cardinals are 12-2 overall and 2-0 in league action after defeating Akron 71-64 in overtime on Saturday. Ball State was picked to finish second in the MAC preseason poll and are currently ranked third in the Mid-Major Top 25 poll, the highest ranking of any MAC team. The Cardinals are led offensively by Madelyn Bischoff who is averaging 13.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Preseason All-MAC first team selection Ally Becki (12.6 ppg, 5.5 apg) is also scoring in double figures while four other Cardinals average 7.0+ ppg.
Reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year Nyla Hampton transferred to Ball State from Bowling Green and currently leads the MAC and ranks in the top five in the nation in total steals (54) and steals per game (3.9). Bischoff ranks seventh in nation in three-pointers per contest (3.31), 10th in 3FG percentage (47.8) and 14th in total threes (43). As a team, the Cardinals rank first in the MAC in field goal percentage (44.9), 3FG made/game (8.6), steals per game (11.4), defensive RPG (34.3), turnover margin (+4.8), bench points (24.9) and winning percentage (85.7) while ranking second in scoring offense (74.2), scoring margin (+9.1), assists per game (15.9).
Up next, Buffalo returns home to host the Akron Zips on Saturday, January 13 at 2pm.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Mick Tidrow (play-by-play) and Shelby Farwig (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 37th overall meeting between Buffalo and Ball State with the Cardinals owning a 20-16 series advantage. The Cardinals defeated the Bulls in the lone meeting of the season a year ago.
Buffalo defeated Central Michigan 77-69 for their first MAC win on Saturday afternoon at McGuirk Arena. Four Bulls scored in double figures, led by Chellia Watson who scored a game-high 26 points to go with a team-high eight rebounds. Senior Rana Elhusseini was perfect on the afternoon, going 5-for-5 from the floor, including 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, for 15 points to go with a team-best four assists. Freshman Kirsten Lewis-Williams scored 15 points to go with six rebounds while sophomore Hattie Ogden also scored in double figures with 13 points, including 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc.
Watson leads MAC and ranks in the top 10 in the nation in scoring at 22.3 points per game to go with 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest, while also shooting 45.6% from three-point range, which puts her in the top 20 nationally. Lewis-Williams currently ranks 13th in the MAC in scoring (12.3 ppg) and 12th in rebounding (6.1 rpg), which is first among all rookies in the league in both categories. Elhusseini (9.9 ppg, 3.2 apg) and Ogden (9.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg) continue to be impact players for UB.
As a team, Buffalo is ranked in the top three in the MAC in scoring offense (67.9), scoring defense (63.8), field goal percentage (.429), field goal defense (.376) and three-point field goal percentage (.352). The Bulls are averaging 32.3 points per game in the paint while also scoring 10.0 ppg in transition, and are turning defense into offense, averaging 16 points per contest off opponent's turnovers.
Winners of six straight, the Ball State Cardinals are 12-2 overall and 2-0 in league action after defeating Akron 71-64 in overtime on Saturday. Ball State was picked to finish second in the MAC preseason poll and are currently ranked third in the Mid-Major Top 25 poll, the highest ranking of any MAC team. The Cardinals are led offensively by Madelyn Bischoff who is averaging 13.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Preseason All-MAC first team selection Ally Becki (12.6 ppg, 5.5 apg) is also scoring in double figures while four other Cardinals average 7.0+ ppg.
Reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year Nyla Hampton transferred to Ball State from Bowling Green and currently leads the MAC and ranks in the top five in the nation in total steals (54) and steals per game (3.9). Bischoff ranks seventh in nation in three-pointers per contest (3.31), 10th in 3FG percentage (47.8) and 14th in total threes (43). As a team, the Cardinals rank first in the MAC in field goal percentage (44.9), 3FG made/game (8.6), steals per game (11.4), defensive RPG (34.3), turnover margin (+4.8), bench points (24.9) and winning percentage (85.7) while ranking second in scoring offense (74.2), scoring margin (+9.1), assists per game (15.9).
Up next, Buffalo returns home to host the Akron Zips on Saturday, January 13 at 2pm.
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