Second Half Surge Not Enough in Loss to Massachusetts on Saturday

Saturday, January 17

Buffalo, NY

1:00pm

University at Buffalo

2-15,0-6MAC

Massachusetts

13-3,5-1MAC

Massachusetts

Buffalo

Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UB Athletics

Second Half Surge Not Enough in Loss to Massachusetts on Saturday

1/17/2026 3:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's basketball team put forth a valiant effort in the second half but the comeback fell short in a 79-67 loss to Massachusetts at Alumni Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Redshirt freshman guard Aniya Rowe led the Bulls in scoring for the fourth straight game as she tied scored a game-high 19 points to go with six rebounds and six assists. Fellow freshman Meg Lucas also shined, narrowly missing out on a double-double with 17 points, on an efficient 54% shooting, to go with nine rebounds and junior guard Paula Lopez also made her mark with nine points, five rebounds and six assists.

Massachusetts opened the game on a 10-0 run to force an early UB timeout. They would extend the run to 12 before Rowe knocked down a three from the top of the key for UB's first field goal of the game and Ella Corry got to the rim for a layup, but the Minutewomen closed the game on another run to take a 24-10 lead at the end of the first.

Graduate student guard McDuffie picked off a pass and scored early in the second quarter, but UMass answered with an 8-0 run to take a 20-point lead at the media timeout. The Bulls began to chip away as Liza Field knocked down a long two before Lopez hit Lucas for a layup on the block and then Lopez drained a three on the wing before she drove and kicked to Rowe for a deep triple, but the Minutewomen converted on a second chance layup in the final seconds to take a 43-25 lead at the half.

Rowe came out aggressive as she buried a triple on the wing and then after a Corry steal, raced up the court for a fastbreak layup to cut the lead to 15 early in the third quarter. Buffalo continued to work as Lopez hit a triple on the wing before Rowe knocked down a floater in the lane and then hit Lucas with a beautiful pass for an and-one bucket to cut the lead to 14 at the media timeout. Rowe continued to heat up from deep as she drained a three on UB's first possession out of the break and her backcourt mate, Lopez, got in on the action with a triple of her own a couple plays later to cut the lead to 12. UMass answered with a 6-2 run before Rowe used her quickness to her advantage, racing up the court and getting fouled on a last second heave, and then converted at the free throw line to cut the lead to 64-50 at the end of the third.

Freshman Diann Jackson bulled her way inside for a layup in the paint early in the fourth quarter before Rowe came away with a steal and found Lucas up ahead for a fastbreak layup and then later, Lucas skied up for an offensive rebound putback to pull UB within 12 but the Minutewomen answered with a fastbreak triple to maintain a 13-point lead at the 5:40 mark. Lucas continued to attack as she finished on a couple of tough layups through contact and then knocked down a pair at the charity stripe to pull UB within nine with 1:43 remaining but that would be as close as they would get as the visitors sealed the game at the free throw line in the final minute.

Buffalo recorded 16 assists on the day, their second-highest total of the season, while scoring 30 points in the paint and forcing 18 turnovers, which they turned into 15 points, but Massachusetts shot an efficient 46% from the floor, including 40 points of their own inside, while also maintaining a significant advantage on the glass.

Up next, Buffalo will travel to Oxford, Ohio to take on the Miami (OH) RedHawks on Wednesday, January 21 at 7pm.

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