Bulls Defeat Western Michigan 80-54 on Senior Day

Saturday, March 8

Buffalo, NY

2:00pm

24-6,13-5MAC

Western Michigan

12-17,8-10MAC

Western Mich.

Buffalo

Photo by: Paul Hokanson / UB Athletics

Bulls Defeat Western Michigan 80-54 on Senior Day

3/8/2025 4:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's basketball team (24-6, 13-5 MAC) sent out their senior class in style as they cruised to an 80-54 win over Western Michigan on Senior Day at Alumni Arena.

With the win, the Bulls finished the regular season in a tie for second place in the standings and secured the #3 seed in next week's Mid-American Conference Tournament and will face #6 Bowling Green in the quarterfinals.

The Bulls were led offensively by fifth year guard Chellia Watson who recorded her sixth career double-double, with a game-high 29 points and 11 rebounds. Fellow fifth year Noelani Cornfield added 14 points and six assists while senior forward Jordyn Beaty narrowly missed out on a double-double with eight points and 10 rebounds.

The Broncos got on the board first with a couple early threes, but Beaty went to work for a pair of layups and Watson got out for a fastbreak layup to put UB up 7-6 at the first media timeout. The hosts took a one-point lead with just under two minutes to go but Kirsten Lewis-Williams sliced to the basket for a layup through contact and Beaty got a bucket in the paint at the buzzer to give UB a 17-14 lead at the end of the first.

After a slow start to the second quarter for both teams, Paula Lopez drilled a three from the top of the key and Watson scored in the paint to put UB up 22-17 at the media timeout. Lopez continued to attack as she knocked down a mid-range jumper in the paint and then the Bulls got going in transition as Sitota Gines hit Lopez for a fastbreak layup and Watson found Seawell inside for a bucket at the buzzer to give the Bulls a 30-21 lead at the half.

The Bulls turned it up a notch out of the locker room, rattling off a 6-0 run, to take a 15-point lead and force a WMU timeout early in the third quarter. The visitors cut the lead to 11 before Gines answered with a corner three and Cornfield stopped and popped for a midrange jumper to put UB up 41-29 at the media timeout. The Broncos hit a three to make it a one possession game at the 2:20 mark but Watson scored on three straight trips down the floor to give the Bulls a 51-43 lead at the end of the third.

Cornfield got to the rim on UB's second possession of the fourth quarter before Ariana Seawell powered up for a layup through contact and Watson drilled a deep triple to put UB up 59-47 at the 6:25 mark. The Bulls continued to turn defense into offense converting two straight steal and scores to go up 63-47 and force a WMU timeout. Buffalo then got to the charity stripe before Terah Harness drained a corner three to put an exclamation point on the senior day victory.

Buffalo dominated in the paint, outscoring the Falcons 50-18 inside, while also turning defense into offense as they scored 27 points off 18 WMU miscues and added 35 fastbreak points.

Up next, the Bulls and Falcons will square off in the fourth quarterfinal game of the day on Wednesday, March 12 at approximately 7pm.

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