Tuesday, November 26
Niagara Falls, NY
6:00pm
6-0,0-0MAC
86
at
53
Niagara
0-5,0-0MAAC
1
2
3
4
F
Buffalo
16
23
29
18
86
Niagara
11
14
13
15
53
Bulls Soar to 86-53 Win Over Niagara on Tuesday Night
11/26/2024 9:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's basketball team picked up its second straight Big 4 win, with a dominant 86-53 victory over Niagara at the Gallagher Center on Tuesday night.
The Bulls are 6-0 for the first time since the 2016-17 season. The victory was also a special one for head coach Becky Burke, who recorded the 150th win of her career.
Four Bulls scored in double figures, led by senior guard Terah Harness who had a breakthrough performance with a game-high 23 points on an efficient 62% shooting night. Sophomore Kirsten Lewis-Williams scored 16 points, including a stellar 8-for-8 performance from the free throw line, and Chellia Watson added 13 points. Sophomore Alexis Davis recorded her first double-double of the season with 12 points and a career-high 18 rebounds. The 18 rebounds are tied for sixth all-time in a single-game in program history.
Niagara took their first, and only lead of the game, with baskets on their first two possessions, before the Bulls answered with an 8-0 run, capped by a pair of offensive rebound putbacks from Lewis-Williams and Davis, to go up 10-6 and force a Niagara timeout at the 4:31 mark. The hosts then pulled within two, but the Bulls maintained composure and got to the charity stripe, as they led 16-11 at the end of the first.
Buffalo shared the basketball beautifully on their first possession of the second quarter as Paula Lopez hit Harness for a backdoor layup and then, after more UB free throws, Lopez split the defense and got a floater in the lane to drop to put UB up 26-15 and force a Niagara timeout. The Purple Eagles responded with a pair of triples to pull within seven before Harness answered with a three of her own from the corner and Lopez turned defense into offense with a steal and score and the Bulls led 37-25 at the half.
The Bulls were aggressive to start the second half as Watson got on the board with a jumper before Lopez drilled a triple on the wing and then found Lewis-Williams for a fastbreak layup to give UB a 21-point lead and force a Purple Eagles timeout at the 7:31 mark. UB then extended the run to 14-0 on a triple and a layup from Watson to put the Bulls up by 27 at the media timeout. Buffalo continued to pour it on, as they rattled off another 10-2 run, starting with another Watson three and ending with a Harness fastbreak layup, to give the Bulls a 30-point lead at the end of the third.
Senior forward Ariana Seawell provided the Bulls with a spark as she scored on back-to-back possessions before Watson beat her defender for an easy layup. Later, Harness, Lopez and Lewis-Williams executed a steal and score play and then Harness drilled a triple and Sitota Gines blew by her defender for a layup off glass to put UB up 84-46 at the media timeout and the Bulls would cruise to victory from there.
The Bulls dominated the glass for the second straight game, outrebounding the Purple Eagles 50-22, including a season-high 22 offensive rebounds that they turned into 24 second chance points. Buffalo also doubled up Niagara in the paint, outscoring the hosts 44-18 inside. The Bulls continue to turn defense into offense as they forced 25 turnovers and scored 27 points off those miscues, while also adding 21 fastbreak points.
"Really excited for our group to improve to 6-0 and get another Big 4 win," said Burke. "We take pride in improving daily and with each game, and I believe we did that tonight."
"I feel so blessed and fortunate to have had the chance to coach so many great players in my career which has ultimately put me in this position. I haven't scored a single point or grabbed one rebound in these 150 wins, it's all about them. I'm so appreciative of our current staff and all the hardworking, loyal people that I've been alongside in the past as well. It takes a village, and I'm grateful."
Up next, Buffalo concludes Big 4 action on Saturday, November 30 as they welcome St. Bonaventure to Alumni Arena for Kids Day at 2pm.
For all the latest on UB women's basketball, follow @UBWomensBasketball on Twitter/X and Instagram and like the UB Women's Basketball Facebook page.
Click here for ticket information.
Click here for information on the Blue & White Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.
The Bulls are 6-0 for the first time since the 2016-17 season. The victory was also a special one for head coach Becky Burke, who recorded the 150th win of her career.
Four Bulls scored in double figures, led by senior guard Terah Harness who had a breakthrough performance with a game-high 23 points on an efficient 62% shooting night. Sophomore Kirsten Lewis-Williams scored 16 points, including a stellar 8-for-8 performance from the free throw line, and Chellia Watson added 13 points. Sophomore Alexis Davis recorded her first double-double of the season with 12 points and a career-high 18 rebounds. The 18 rebounds are tied for sixth all-time in a single-game in program history.
Niagara took their first, and only lead of the game, with baskets on their first two possessions, before the Bulls answered with an 8-0 run, capped by a pair of offensive rebound putbacks from Lewis-Williams and Davis, to go up 10-6 and force a Niagara timeout at the 4:31 mark. The hosts then pulled within two, but the Bulls maintained composure and got to the charity stripe, as they led 16-11 at the end of the first.
Buffalo shared the basketball beautifully on their first possession of the second quarter as Paula Lopez hit Harness for a backdoor layup and then, after more UB free throws, Lopez split the defense and got a floater in the lane to drop to put UB up 26-15 and force a Niagara timeout. The Purple Eagles responded with a pair of triples to pull within seven before Harness answered with a three of her own from the corner and Lopez turned defense into offense with a steal and score and the Bulls led 37-25 at the half.
The Bulls were aggressive to start the second half as Watson got on the board with a jumper before Lopez drilled a triple on the wing and then found Lewis-Williams for a fastbreak layup to give UB a 21-point lead and force a Purple Eagles timeout at the 7:31 mark. UB then extended the run to 14-0 on a triple and a layup from Watson to put the Bulls up by 27 at the media timeout. Buffalo continued to pour it on, as they rattled off another 10-2 run, starting with another Watson three and ending with a Harness fastbreak layup, to give the Bulls a 30-point lead at the end of the third.
Senior forward Ariana Seawell provided the Bulls with a spark as she scored on back-to-back possessions before Watson beat her defender for an easy layup. Later, Harness, Lopez and Lewis-Williams executed a steal and score play and then Harness drilled a triple and Sitota Gines blew by her defender for a layup off glass to put UB up 84-46 at the media timeout and the Bulls would cruise to victory from there.
The Bulls dominated the glass for the second straight game, outrebounding the Purple Eagles 50-22, including a season-high 22 offensive rebounds that they turned into 24 second chance points. Buffalo also doubled up Niagara in the paint, outscoring the hosts 44-18 inside. The Bulls continue to turn defense into offense as they forced 25 turnovers and scored 27 points off those miscues, while also adding 21 fastbreak points.
"Really excited for our group to improve to 6-0 and get another Big 4 win," said Burke. "We take pride in improving daily and with each game, and I believe we did that tonight."
"I feel so blessed and fortunate to have had the chance to coach so many great players in my career which has ultimately put me in this position. I haven't scored a single point or grabbed one rebound in these 150 wins, it's all about them. I'm so appreciative of our current staff and all the hardworking, loyal people that I've been alongside in the past as well. It takes a village, and I'm grateful."
Up next, Buffalo concludes Big 4 action on Saturday, November 30 as they welcome St. Bonaventure to Alumni Arena for Kids Day at 2pm.
For all the latest on UB women's basketball, follow @UBWomensBasketball on Twitter/X and Instagram and like the UB Women's Basketball Facebook page.
Click here for ticket information.
Click here for information on the Blue & White Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.
Team Stats
UB
Niag
FG%
.431
.392
3FG%
.400
.500
FT%
.963
.333
RB
50
22
TO
17
25
STL
16
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
23
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
16
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
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