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Saturday, March 16
Cleveland, Ohio
11:00am
University at Buffalo
19-13,10-8MAC
60
vs
78
Kent State (Finals)
21-10,12-5MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Buffalo
15
19
13
13
60
Kent St.
20
10
29
19
78
Bulls Fall in MAC Championship Game to Kent State
3/16/2024 1:20:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CLEVELAND, OH – The magical run for the University at Buffalo women's basketball team came to an end on Saturday afternoon as the Bulls lost to Kent State, 78-60, in the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game at Cleveland's Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Chellia Watson led all scorers with 21 points but it wasn't enough to slow the hot-shooting Golden Flashes who shot 50 percent from three (7-for-14) in the second half to pull away for the victory.
Watson hit a three-pointer at the second-quarter buzzer to give the Bulls a 34-30 lead at the half. Rana Elhusseini opened the second half by draining a three-pointer and the Bulls had a seven-point advantage – their largest of the game.
But it was at that point Kent State got hot. The Golden Flashes went on an 11-0 scoring run, aided by two Dionna Gray three-pointers, to quickly regain a 41-37 advantage. They would never relinquish the lead.
Paula Lopez rimmed in a three-pointer to cut the Kent State lead to 46-45 with 5:43 left in the third quarter. However, another scoring run by the Flashes, this time 12-2, extended the Kent State lead to 59-47 at the end of the third quarter.
After Kent State opened a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Bulls made a final push. A three-pointer from the top of the key by Hattie Ogden with 4:23 left cut the Kent State advantage to 66-58. But the Bulls would get no closer.
Elhusseini finished with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists. Alexis Davis also reached double-digits with 10 points.
Watson, who also had a game-high five assists, and Elhusseini were both named to the MAC All-Tournament Team.
The Bulls will now wait to see if they are selected to play in a postseason tournament.
Chellia Watson led all scorers with 21 points but it wasn't enough to slow the hot-shooting Golden Flashes who shot 50 percent from three (7-for-14) in the second half to pull away for the victory.
Watson hit a three-pointer at the second-quarter buzzer to give the Bulls a 34-30 lead at the half. Rana Elhusseini opened the second half by draining a three-pointer and the Bulls had a seven-point advantage – their largest of the game.
But it was at that point Kent State got hot. The Golden Flashes went on an 11-0 scoring run, aided by two Dionna Gray three-pointers, to quickly regain a 41-37 advantage. They would never relinquish the lead.
Paula Lopez rimmed in a three-pointer to cut the Kent State lead to 46-45 with 5:43 left in the third quarter. However, another scoring run by the Flashes, this time 12-2, extended the Kent State lead to 59-47 at the end of the third quarter.
After Kent State opened a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Bulls made a final push. A three-pointer from the top of the key by Hattie Ogden with 4:23 left cut the Kent State advantage to 66-58. But the Bulls would get no closer.
Elhusseini finished with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists. Alexis Davis also reached double-digits with 10 points.
Watson, who also had a game-high five assists, and Elhusseini were both named to the MAC All-Tournament Team.
The Bulls will now wait to see if they are selected to play in a postseason tournament.
Team Stats
UB
KentSt
FG%
.390
.475
3FG%
.429
.360
FT%
.833
.813
RB
32
38
TO
15
10
STL
3
7
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
9
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's BasketballGuard
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