
Photo by: Paul Hokanson / UB Athletics
Bulls Bounce Bobcats, 72-55, on Wednesday
1/22/2025 8:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's basketball team (16-2, 5-2 MAC) led for all but one minute and 17 seconds in a 72-55 win over the Ohio Bobcats at Alumni Arena on Wednesday night.
Three Bulls scored in double figures led by Chellia Watson who scored a game-high 20 points, including five second-half three-pointers. Sophomore Kirsten Lewis-Williams stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists while Ariana Seawell also scored in double figures in an efficient evening in which she recorded 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the floor and five rebounds, including the 500th of her career, in 12 minutes of action. Seniors Noelani Cornfield and Sitota Gines just missed out on double figures with nine points each.
The Bulls opened the game on a 7-3 run, capped by a corner triple from Gines at the buzzer, and they would lead 12-8 at the first media timeout. The Bulls then got to the free throw line before Cornfield converted a steal and score bucket and Gines finished a layup off glass to give the Bulls a 20-14 lead at the end of the first.
The Bobcats cut the lead to three early in the second quarter before Gines and Seawell scored on two straight possessions to put UB up 26-19 lead at the media timeout. Gines then hit Terah Harness with a skip pass for a corner triple before Seawell finished through contact for a layup to give the Bulls a five-point lead at the half.
Watson hit a triple on UB's first possession of the third quarter before Gines came up with a steal and score and Watson drilled another three to put UB up by 10 at the 8:29 mark. Ohio then made it a one-possession game before Watson drilled her third triple of the quarter to put Buffalo up by six at the media timeout. The Bulls extended their lead to 12 on another Watson three and free throws from Lewis-Williams before Seawell went to work on the glass, recording a pair of offensive rebound putbacks in the final minutes, to give Buffalo a 54-42 lead at the end of the third.
The Bulls stayed aggressive to open the fourth quarter as Seawell powered up for a layup through contact before Watson came up with a steal and hit Lewis-Williams for a fastbreak bucket plus the foul to put UB up 58-42 and force an Ohio timeout at the 8:33 mark. Later, Gines drove and found Jordyn Beaty for a baseline layup, Cornfield knocked down a midrange jumper and then found Lewis-Williams for a fastbreak bucket to put UB up by 18 with two minutes remaining and the Bulls cruised to victory.
The Bulls smothered the Bobcats all night on the defensive end of the floor as they forced 26 turnovers and scored 31 points off those miscues, the most in a league contest this season and third most on the year. Buffalo also edged Ohio on the glass, including 10 second chance points, while also scoring 30 points in the paint and 24 fastbreak points.
"Proud of our effort tonight," said head coach Becky Burke. "16-2 isn't an easy accomplishment so I'm happy that our team continues to take care of business. It was truly a group effort, both offensively and defensively, which I also think is a positive thing for us as we continue to get better every game."
Up next, Buffalo will head back on the road for a pair of games, beginning on Saturday, January 25 at Akron. Tipoff from James A. Rhodes Arena is set for 4:30pm.
For all the latest on UB women's basketball, follow @UBWomensBasketball on 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.
Three Bulls scored in double figures led by Chellia Watson who scored a game-high 20 points, including five second-half three-pointers. Sophomore Kirsten Lewis-Williams stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists while Ariana Seawell also scored in double figures in an efficient evening in which she recorded 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the floor and five rebounds, including the 500th of her career, in 12 minutes of action. Seniors Noelani Cornfield and Sitota Gines just missed out on double figures with nine points each.
The Bulls opened the game on a 7-3 run, capped by a corner triple from Gines at the buzzer, and they would lead 12-8 at the first media timeout. The Bulls then got to the free throw line before Cornfield converted a steal and score bucket and Gines finished a layup off glass to give the Bulls a 20-14 lead at the end of the first.
The Bobcats cut the lead to three early in the second quarter before Gines and Seawell scored on two straight possessions to put UB up 26-19 lead at the media timeout. Gines then hit Terah Harness with a skip pass for a corner triple before Seawell finished through contact for a layup to give the Bulls a five-point lead at the half.
Watson hit a triple on UB's first possession of the third quarter before Gines came up with a steal and score and Watson drilled another three to put UB up by 10 at the 8:29 mark. Ohio then made it a one-possession game before Watson drilled her third triple of the quarter to put Buffalo up by six at the media timeout. The Bulls extended their lead to 12 on another Watson three and free throws from Lewis-Williams before Seawell went to work on the glass, recording a pair of offensive rebound putbacks in the final minutes, to give Buffalo a 54-42 lead at the end of the third.
The Bulls stayed aggressive to open the fourth quarter as Seawell powered up for a layup through contact before Watson came up with a steal and hit Lewis-Williams for a fastbreak bucket plus the foul to put UB up 58-42 and force an Ohio timeout at the 8:33 mark. Later, Gines drove and found Jordyn Beaty for a baseline layup, Cornfield knocked down a midrange jumper and then found Lewis-Williams for a fastbreak bucket to put UB up by 18 with two minutes remaining and the Bulls cruised to victory.
The Bulls smothered the Bobcats all night on the defensive end of the floor as they forced 26 turnovers and scored 31 points off those miscues, the most in a league contest this season and third most on the year. Buffalo also edged Ohio on the glass, including 10 second chance points, while also scoring 30 points in the paint and 24 fastbreak points.
"Proud of our effort tonight," said head coach Becky Burke. "16-2 isn't an easy accomplishment so I'm happy that our team continues to take care of business. It was truly a group effort, both offensively and defensively, which I also think is a positive thing for us as we continue to get better every game."
Up next, Buffalo will head back on the road for a pair of games, beginning on Saturday, January 25 at Akron. Tipoff from James A. Rhodes Arena is set for 4:30pm.
For all the latest on UB women's basketball, follow @UBWomensBasketball on 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
Ohio
UB
FG%
.383
.407
3FG%
.261
.318
FT%
.684
.739
RB
33
35
TO
26
16
STL
9
15
Game Leaders
Scoring
Players Mentioned
1-on-1 with new head women's basketball coach Kristen Sharkey | A Sisterhood
Thursday, May 29
1-on-1 with new head women's basketball coach Kristen Sharkey | What Lead Me to Coaching
Thursday, May 29
1-on-1 with new head women's basketball coach Kristen Sharkey | Excited and Joyful
Thursday, May 29
1-on-1 with new head women's basketball coach Kristen Sharkey | Playstyle
Thursday, May 29