Bulls Drop Heartbreaker at Akron

Saturday, January 31

Akron, OH

12:00pm

University at Buffalo

2-19,0-10MAC

Akron

4-17,1-8MAC

Buffalo

Akron

1/31/2026 3:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

AKRON, Ohio – The University at Buffalo women's basketball team was unable to execute in the final minute as they dropped a heartbreaker to Akron, 76-72, on Saturday afternoon at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Four Bulls scored in double figures, led by freshman Aniya Rowe who scored a game-high 22 points, including 9-of-10 from the free throw line, to go with seven rebounds and six assists. Freshman Meg Lucas recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 rebounds, junior Janyah Bohanon scored 13 points and freshman Ella Corry added 10.

The Bulls were in attack mode early on as Paula Lopez got out for a fastbreak layup and Corry finished in the lane for a tough bucket through contact to give the Bulls a 6-4 lead at the first media timeout. The Zips took the lead on a three, but Rowe came up with a steal and scored and then later, Corry sliced to the basket for a layup and Bohanon knocked down a turnaround jumper to put UB back on top. The Bulls extended the run to 8-0 on an Anaya Coleman offensive rebound putback, but the Zips scored at the buzzer to cut the lead to 20-17 at the end of the first.

Akron scored on two straight possessions early in the second quarter, but Rowe answered with a 9-2 run of her own, bookended by a step-back triple and a pull-up jumper, to give UB a 29-24 lead at the media timeout. Buffalo got to the charity stripe and converted to extend the run to 13-0 and take a 38-26 lead at the half.

The Zips opened the second quarter on an 11-4 run to cut the lead to five before Lopez threaded the needle with a great pass to Lucas on the block for a layup and the Bulls would maintain a 45-37 lead at the media timeout. Lopez dished out another dime to Lucas on UB's first possession out of the break, but the hosts responded with a 7-0 run and the game would be tied at 54 at the end of the third.

The teams traded baskets early in the fourth before Rowe got fouled shooting a triple and knocked down all three to break the tie. The Bulls then turned defense into offense as Lucas pulled down a rebound and Lopez hit Corry for a fastbreak layup before Bohanon drove to the basket and got the bucket plus the foul to put UB up by five at the final media timeout. Lucas knocked down a midrange jumper and then the teams traded free throws with UB lead 72-71 with 51.3 seconds remaining, but the Bulls were unable to score on their final four possessions of the game as they came up short.

Buffalo shot nearly 46% from the field, scored 44 points in the paint and held a narrow edge on the glass while also scoring 19 points off turnovers, but the Bulls also committed 17 turnovers which Akron converted into 17 points while also adding 42 points inside.

Up next, Buffalo will return home to host Central Michigan on Education Day at Alumni Arena on Wednesday, February 4 at 11am.

For all the latest on UB women's basketball, follow @UBWomensBasketball on Twitter/X and Instagram and like the UB Women's Basketball Facebook page.

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