Bulls Fall to Toledo in MAC Tournament Semifinals

Friday, March 14

Cleveland, Ohio

12:30pm

25-7,13-5MAC

#2 Toledo

24-7,13-5MAC

Buffalo

Toledo

Bulls Fall to Toledo in MAC Tournament Semifinals

3/14/2025 4:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Despite a solid defensive performance in which the Bulls held Toledo to more than 10 points under their season average, the University at Buffalo women's basketball team fell to the Rockets 56-49 in the Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinals on Friday afternoon at Rocket Arena.

Three Bulls scored in double figures, led by Chellia Watson who scored 12 points. Senior Noelani Cornfield recorded 10 points and five assists and Jordyn Beaty added 10 points. Sophomore Kirsten Lewis-Williams finished just shy of double figures with nine points and six rebounds.

It was a defensive battle early on as the game was knotted at three at the first media timeout. The Rockets used a mini run to take an 8-4 lead before Cornfield got a running floater to drop in transition and followed it with a corner three to pull UB within one at the end of the first.

The teams continued to trade defensive stops before Watson gave UB its first field goal of the second quarter and the game would remain tied at 13 at the media timeout. Buffalo then closed the quarter on a 7-0 run as Cornfield drained a corner three and Watson scored off glass at the buzzer to put UB up 20-13 at the half. The Bulls held Toledo to just two points in the second quarter, the fewest allowed in a quarter by UB all season.

Senior Sitota Gines sliced to the basket for a layup off glass and Alexis Davis followed with a tough second chance layup to put UB up by seven early in the third quarter. Cornfield then dished out a dime to Beaty on the block for a layup and Buffalo maintained a 26-23 lead at the media timeout. Beaty then she scored on three straight possessions to put UB up by five, but the Rockets answered with an 8-2 run to retake the lead, 35-34. Buffalo continued to fight as Lewis-Williams converted on a turnaround jumper to give UB a 36-35 lead at the end of the third.

Toledo hit a second chance three to retake the lead early in the fourth quarter. Cornfield knocked down a jumper in the paint to tie the game at 38 but Toledo answered with a 6-0 run and they would lead 44-40 at the media timeout. Watson got a tough runner to go to pull UB within four at the 3:23 mark and Buffalo continued to chip away, as Lewis-Williams finished through contact for the and one bucket to make it a one-possession game with just under three minutes remaining, but Toledo answered with a three and that would prove to be the dagger as the Rockets sealed the game from the free throw line.

Buffalo and Toledo were even in the paint at 26 points each. The Bulls forced 24 Rockets' turnovers and scored 14 points off those miscues, but Toledo held an advantage on the glass, including 12 offensive rebounds which they turned into 13 second chance points.

Up next, Buffalo will wait to see in which postseason tournament they will participate. More information to come.

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