Monday, November 4
Buffalo, NY
6:00pm
1-0,0-0MAC
80
vs
78
Troy
0-1,0-0Sun Belt
1
2
3
4
F
Troy
18
30
17
13
78
Buffalo
24
22
23
11
80
Photo by: Paul Hokanson / UB Athletics
Bulls Win Thriller over Troy in Season Opener
11/4/2024 9:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – In a heavyweight battle between two teams picked in the top three in their respective conference's preseason polls, the University at Buffalo women's basketball team defeated Troy 80-78 in the regular season opener at Alumni Arena on Monday night.
Four Bulls scored in double figures, led by fifth year guard Chellia Watson who recorded a double-double with a game-high 28 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore Kirsten Lewis-Williams scored 15 points while Terah Harness and Alexis Davis added 10 points each.
The Trojans opened the game on a 9-0 on a trio of triples before Lewis-Williams hit a three of her own to spark a 5-0 run, but Troy would maintain an 11-5 lead at the first media timeout. Watson went on a mini 4-0 run by herself, before Paula Lopez hit Harness for a beautiful fastbreak layup to tie the game at 14. Later, Harness continued to heat up as she drilled a three before Lopez got a floater to drop in the final seconds as the Bulls made five-of-six field goals to close the quarter on a 24-9 run and take a 24-18 lead at the end of the first.
Lewis-Williams continued to attack with a pair of layups to start the quarter before Noelani Cornfield and Watson converted on a pair of mid-range jumpers, the latter an and-one bucket, to put UB up by eight and they would lead 36-27 at the media timeout. The Bulls would then get to the free throw line at will, as they went 11-of-16 from the charity stripe in the quarter, but the Trojans were just as aggressive as they closed the quarter on an 8-1 run over the final 90 seconds to take a 48-46 lead at the half.
The Bulls turned defense into offense to start the third quarter, as they used a 12-3 run, including three straight transition layups by Lewis-Williams, Cornfield and Watson, to retake the lead, 58-51, and force a Troy timeout at the 7:40 mark. Buffalo continued to attack as they used a 7-0 run, capped by a three from Watson and a steal and score by Harness, to take a 65-56 lead, but the Trojans answered with an and-one bucket to cut the lead to seven at the media timeout. The teams then traded possessions before Troy converted a layup plus the foul to cut the lead to four at the end of the third.
The Bulls executed a beautiful set to begin the fourth quarter as Harness hit Ariana Seawell on the baseline and she finished off glass for a reverse layup and then the Bulls continued to get to the free throw line as they maintained a 75-69 lead at the final media timeout. It was then a defensive battle as neither team recorded a field goal for three-plus minutes before Cornfield drove and kicked to Watson who knocked down a three in the corner to put UB up 79-72 with three minutes remaining. The Trojans cut the lead to two with 43 seconds to go but that would be as close as they would get as the Bulls came up with two big defensive stops to seal the victory.
Buffalo held their own on the glass and in the paint against the nation's leading rebounders from a season ago while also turning defense into offense as they scored 25 fastbreak points and turned 11 Troy miscues into 15 points at the other end. The Bulls also found success at the charity stripe, going 27-for-38 on the night.
"Extremely proud of our team's effort tonight," said head coach Becky Burke. "That is a big win to start our season with a high-quality opponent like Troy. We showed poise, maturity and most importantly, toughness. Really excited to build off this win."
Up next, Buffalo returns to action on Friday when they host Buffalo State at 6pm in the first game of a doubleheader with the UB men.
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.
Four Bulls scored in double figures, led by fifth year guard Chellia Watson who recorded a double-double with a game-high 28 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore Kirsten Lewis-Williams scored 15 points while Terah Harness and Alexis Davis added 10 points each.
The Trojans opened the game on a 9-0 on a trio of triples before Lewis-Williams hit a three of her own to spark a 5-0 run, but Troy would maintain an 11-5 lead at the first media timeout. Watson went on a mini 4-0 run by herself, before Paula Lopez hit Harness for a beautiful fastbreak layup to tie the game at 14. Later, Harness continued to heat up as she drilled a three before Lopez got a floater to drop in the final seconds as the Bulls made five-of-six field goals to close the quarter on a 24-9 run and take a 24-18 lead at the end of the first.
Lewis-Williams continued to attack with a pair of layups to start the quarter before Noelani Cornfield and Watson converted on a pair of mid-range jumpers, the latter an and-one bucket, to put UB up by eight and they would lead 36-27 at the media timeout. The Bulls would then get to the free throw line at will, as they went 11-of-16 from the charity stripe in the quarter, but the Trojans were just as aggressive as they closed the quarter on an 8-1 run over the final 90 seconds to take a 48-46 lead at the half.
The Bulls turned defense into offense to start the third quarter, as they used a 12-3 run, including three straight transition layups by Lewis-Williams, Cornfield and Watson, to retake the lead, 58-51, and force a Troy timeout at the 7:40 mark. Buffalo continued to attack as they used a 7-0 run, capped by a three from Watson and a steal and score by Harness, to take a 65-56 lead, but the Trojans answered with an and-one bucket to cut the lead to seven at the media timeout. The teams then traded possessions before Troy converted a layup plus the foul to cut the lead to four at the end of the third.
The Bulls executed a beautiful set to begin the fourth quarter as Harness hit Ariana Seawell on the baseline and she finished off glass for a reverse layup and then the Bulls continued to get to the free throw line as they maintained a 75-69 lead at the final media timeout. It was then a defensive battle as neither team recorded a field goal for three-plus minutes before Cornfield drove and kicked to Watson who knocked down a three in the corner to put UB up 79-72 with three minutes remaining. The Trojans cut the lead to two with 43 seconds to go but that would be as close as they would get as the Bulls came up with two big defensive stops to seal the victory.
Buffalo held their own on the glass and in the paint against the nation's leading rebounders from a season ago while also turning defense into offense as they scored 25 fastbreak points and turned 11 Troy miscues into 15 points at the other end. The Bulls also found success at the charity stripe, going 27-for-38 on the night.
"Extremely proud of our team's effort tonight," said head coach Becky Burke. "That is a big win to start our season with a high-quality opponent like Troy. We showed poise, maturity and most importantly, toughness. Really excited to build off this win."
Up next, Buffalo returns to action on Friday when they host Buffalo State at 6pm in the first game of a doubleheader with the UB men.
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
TROY
UB
FG%
.420
.354
3FG%
.286
.350
FT%
.476
.711
RB
51
45
TO
18
8
STL
3
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
28
FGM
9
3FGM
4
FTM
6
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
0
3FGM
0
FTM
10
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
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