Bulls Drop Heartbreaker at Northern Illinois on Wednesday

Wednesday, March 4

DeKalb, IL

7:00 pm (ET)

University at Buffalo

Northern Illinois

Bulls Drop Heartbreaker at Northern Illinois on Wednesday

3/4/2026 9:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball

DEKALB, IL – A last second shot at the buzzer rattled in and out as the University at Buffalo women's basketball dropped a heartbreaker, 56-53, at Northern Illinois on Wednesday night.

The Bulls were led offensively by sophomore Amber Howard who recorded a career-high 11 points to go with seven rebounds. Graduate student guard Gabby McDuffie also scored in double figures for the second straight game with 10 points and Ella Corry added eight rebounds and six assists. It was a balanced offensive attack overall for UB as all eight players who saw the floor scored on the night.

NIU opened the game on a 5-0 run, before Aniya Rowe scored on back-to-back possessions, but the hosts would lead 9-6 at the first media timeout. Diann Jackson powered up for an offensive rebound putback to tie the game at 11 and UB would take a one-point lead at the end of the first.

The Huskies retook the lead early in the second quarter, but Corry responded as she scored on back-to-back buckets in the paint and then found Howard on the block for a layup to put UB up 21-18 at the media timeout. McDuffie extended the UB lead with a triple from the wing before Paula Lopez intercepted a pass and threw it ahead to Corry for a fastbreak layup to put UB up by eight and force a NIU timeout at the 2:28 mark. Buffalo continued to stay aggressive on the glass as Howard skied up for an offensive rebound putback before McDuffie converted a pair at the charity stripe to cap a 13-2 UB run and give the Bulls a 30-20 lead at the half.

Rowe hit Jackson for a layup on UB's first possession of the third quarter before Howard knocked down a baseline jumper and then powered up for an offensive rebound putback, but the Huskies scored on two straight possessions to pull within five at the media timeout. NIU extended the run to 10-2 to cut the lead to one and force a UB timeout at the 2:26 mark. Lopez drilled a triple from the top of the key to end the UB scoring drought, but the hosts answered with a second chance layup in the final seconds to cut the UB lead to 41-40 at the end of the third.

The teams traded baskets and then defensive stops early in the fourth quarter before Lopez hit a cutting Rowe with a dime for a layup off glass to give UB a 48-46 lead at the 5:26 mark. McDuffie drained a three from the top of the key before Lucas sliced to the basket for a layup to put UB up by five, but the Huskies closed the game on an 8-0 run and a last second heave from Rowe rattled in and out.

Buffalo dominated the glass, outrebounding NIU 42-27, including 13 offensive rebounds which they turned into 14 second chance points while also scoring 26 points in the paint, but the Bulls committed 20 turnovers on the night and the Huskies capitalized, scoring 17 points off those miscues.

Up next, Buffalo will close out the season at Massachusetts on Saturday, March 7. Tipoff from the Mullins Center is set for 1pm.

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.

Click here for information on the Bulls Championship Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.