Saturday's Scoreboard
Buffalo 46, St. Bonaventure 36
Ohio 70, IUPUI 64
Bowling Green 82, Marshall 69
Wichita State 63, Eastern Michigan 52
Western Kentucky 91, Ball State 86
Duquesne 79, Toledo 74
Story Courtesy of MAC Sports Information
Buffalo 46, St. Bonaventure 36
Box Score
Olean, NY – The University at Buffalo women's basketball team defeated St. Bonaventure 46-36 at the Reilly Center on Saturday afternoon to complete the Big 4 sweep for the second straight year.
Freshman Dyaisha Fair led all scorers with 17 points, 15 of those coming in the second half, to go with six rebounds and three steals. Theresa Onwuka continued her streak of nine straight double-figure games with 10 points, five rebounds and five steals, while Marissa Hamilton recorded a career-high 10 rebounds to go with six points.
"We look at New York as the mecca of the world for basketball and we place a high importance on, and take ownership in, playing our part in winning games against anyone in the state," said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "We found a way to win against a tough, scrappy St. Bonaventure team and we did it as a collective unit."
St. Bonaventure opened the game on 5-0 run before back-to-back transition buckets by the Bulls ended a three-plus minute UB scoring drought to cut the lead to 5-4 and the Bonnies would hold a narrow 7-6 lead at the first media timeout. After another two and a half minute Bulls scoring drought, Hall found Onwuka in transition to cut the Bonnies lead to 9-8 and that would be the score at the end of the first.
Offense would continue to be a premium for both teams to start the second quarter as the Bonnies held a narrow 13-12 advantage at the media timeout. Hanna Hall found Loren Christie who drained the mid-range jumper on the first possession out of the media to give the Bulls their first lead of the game, 14-13. Dajah Logan made a three to give the Bonnies a 16-14 lead with just over two minutes to play and that would be the score at the break.
Jurnee President connected on a three on the opening possession of the third quarter but Fair answered with a triple of her own to cut the lead back to two in the early going. Later, Fair converted the bucket through contact to tie the game 19-19 but the Bonnies responded with a mini 4-1 run to take a 23-20 lead at the media timeout. Buffalo responded with a 7-2 run, highlighted by and-one buckets by Fair and Hamilton, to retake the lead 28-25 lead at the 2:30 mark and Fair would extend the run to 12-4 with four straight points to give UB a 32-27 lead at the end of the third.
The Bonnies clawed back with a 6-3 run to start the fourth quarter to cut the UB lead to 35-33 but Onwuka responded with a tough drive to the basket to put UB up 37-33 at the final media timeout. Schiffer drilled a big three in the corner and Fair slashed to the basket for two to give UB a 42-33 lead at the 2:34 mark and that would be enough for the Bulls to seal the game from the charity stripe and secure the Big 4 sweep.
The 36 Bonnies points were the fewest scored by a UB opponent this season and the 26 turnovers were also the most committed by a Buffalo opponent. Buffalo is now a perfect 44-0 in the past three years when holding opponents to 59 points or less. The Bulls won the battle on the glass by a narrow 41-39 margin, while also holding a 26-12 edge in points in the paint and forcing a season-high 26 Bonnies turnovers.
Buffalo will now have an extended 10-day break from action to focus on finals before returning home on Tuesday Dec. 17 when they will host Dayton at Alumni Arena at 7pm.
Ohio 70, IUPUI 64
Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball team (6-2, 0-0 MAC) defeated IUPUI (4-4, 0-0 Horizon), 70-64, on Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center.
Junior guard Cece Hooks (Dayton, Ohio) led the way with her first double-double of the season after posting 25 points and 10 rebounds. Hooks was 7-of-13 from the field and knocked down the two three-pointers she shot. Hooks added six assists, three steals and two blocks in 38 minutes on the floor. She got to the line 13 times and made nine free throws.
Junior forward Gabby Burris (Baltimore, Ohio) had 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting and made three from deep. Burris was one rebound short of a double-double with nine rebounds in 37 minutes of play.
Senior guard Amani Burke (Columbus, Ohio) produced nine points while going a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Redshirt sophomore guard Erica Johnson (Mansfield, Ohio) had seven points while redshirt sophomore guard Caitlyn Kroll (Bridgeport, Ohio) recorded four points. Freshman guard Peyton Guice (Westerville, Ohio) scored her first basket as a Bobcat and had three points while redshirt junior guard Katie Barker (Cary, Ill.) hit one three-pointer.
"I thought defensively we were solid," head coach Bob Boldon said. "Defensively against a team like this, I thought we did a pretty good job and I was happy with that end of the floor. The score is one thing, but the number of shots they made up against the clock is another. They made some tough shots up against the clock."
Overall, Ohio was 23-of-57 (40.4 percent) from the field and 8-of-21 (38.1 percent) from behind the three-point line. Ohio was 16-of-21 from the free throw line. The Bobcats held IUPUI to 26-of-65 shooting (40.0 percent) and 6-of-26 (23.1 percent) from behind the three-point line. IUPUI got to the line just seven times and made six.
"Everyone who came off the bench did some good things for us," Burris said. "It's a lot of pressure, especially playing a team like that. They stepped up and did their role."
The Jaguars outrebounded Ohio, 43-35. Ohio was led on the boards by Hooks (10) and Burris (9). Kroll and sophomore forward Deesh Beck (Grand Rapids, Mich.) had three boards each while Barker and Johnson each pulled in two.
The Bobcats forced 16 turnovers and recorded 11 steals in the victory. Johnson led the way with four steals while Hooks had three. Ohio had 14 points off turnovers in the win and 15 fast break points.
Ohio took a 18-17 lead into the first break. OU was 7-of-19 (36.8 percent) from the floor and hit four from deep. Hooks had five with one three-pointer while Johnson and Burke each hit a three. The Bobcats took the lead on a Johnson three with two seconds left in the quarter.
The Bobcats outscored IUPUI 19-12 in the second quarter to take a 37-29 advantage into the half. OU shot 7-of-15 (46.7 percent) from the field and made two three-pointers. Hooks had 10 points in the frame while Burris posted five and Johnson scored four. Ohio forced a IUPUI timeout at 28-21 with 5:57 left in the quarter on a steal and fast break layup from Johnson. An and-one layup from Hooks put Ohio up 10 at 31-21. Hooks and Burris went back-to-back from deep to end the frame.
Ohio pushed the lead to 54-45 after three quarters. OU had 10 points in the paint in the third frame with Hooks scoring six. The Bobcats were 5-of-11 (45.5 percent) from the field and 7-of-8 (87.5 percent) from the charity stripe in the quarter.
IUPUI outscored OU 19-16 in the final frame. Burris hit two from deep and had eight points overall while Hooks and Burke each had four points. Ohio was 4-of-12 in the frame (33.3 percent) and was 2-of-4 (50.0 percent) from behind the arc. IUPUI held Ohio without a field goal in the last 3:07 of the game, but Burke made four free throws in that time span to seal the game for Ohio.
Ohio will be back in action at TCU on Sunday, Dec. 15. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. ET.
Bowling Green 82, Marshall 69
Box Score
HUNINGTON, WV -- The Bowling Green State University women's basketball team had an answer for Marshall University at every turn on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 7), as the Falcons posted an 82-69 win at the Cam Henderson Center.
Junior Angela Perry scored a game-high 25 points to pace five double-digit scorers for the Falcons (5-3) and classmate Madisen Parker had 16. Perry, who entered the game as one of the nation's leaders in field-goal percentage, was 11-of-13 from the floor vs. the Thundering Herd.
Parker scored 10 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter, including back-to-back three-pointers after the Herd had cut BG's lead to four points. Parker was 4-for-5 from the arc as the Falcons went 10-for-19 from long range as a team.
Junior Mari Hill scored 12 points and dished out a game-high eight assists, while sophomore Kadie Hempfling had a double-double, with 11 points and a game-best 12 rebounds. Fourth-year Falcon Caterrion Thompson had 10 points along with five assists in the win.
For the hosts (5-4), Kristen Mayo scored 21 points before fouling out, while Khadaijia Brooks had 15 points and 11 boards.
BGSU shot 56.9 percent from the field, including a 21-for-34 (61.8%) effort over the final three quarters. The Falcons, as mentioned, went 10-for-19 (52.6%) from three-point range and had a 41-34 rebounding advantage.
Wichita State 63, Eastern Michigan 52
Box Score
WICHITA, Kan. (EMUEagles.com) – Despite taking a one-point lead into the halftime intermission, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team was unable to close out the Wichita State University Shockers, falling, 63-52, in non-conference action inside Charles Koch arena, today, Dec. 7.
Eastern (2-6) was led by Aaliyah Stanley's (Boynton Beach, Fla.-Oxbridge Academy) 20 points. The freshman guard was 7-of-15 from the floor, including a career-best six makes from downtown. Redshirt junior guard Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)) added 11 points to the Eagles' effort, while sophomore guard Natalia Pineda (Miami, Fla.-John A. Ferguson) hauled in a team-best six rebounds.
Despite EMU shortening a 15-point deficit to nine with just over three minutes to play, Wichita State (5-3) proved too strong, eventually winning the contest, 63-52.
It was the Eastern Michigan defense that stole the show in the first half, forcing 11 Shocker turnovers, including three steals. On the boards, EMU kept pace with the American Athletic Conference-competition as each team brought down 17 rebounds in the half.
Down three early, 3-0, it was Stanley that put the Eagles on the scoreboard first, hitting a step-back three with a hand in her face. A scrappy affair from the beginning, the score was tied, 7-7, at the first media timeout.
Down, 12-7, the Eagles fought back to tie the game with just over one minute remaining in the opening quarter. The Green and White used a Courtnie Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton) triple to get their eventual 9-0 run started, before Combs added a layup of her own to tie the game at 12-all.
Lewis, a native of nearby Belton, Mo. had nearly 40 family members and friends in attendance, many of which saw her play for the first time in her three-year collegiate career.
With the score knotted at 12 to being the second quarter, the Eagles took control, building on their first quarter run to extend their lead to four, 16-12. Despite the Shockers regaining the lead, 20-19, with four minutes remaining, EMU was able to fight back to take a one-point lead into the locker room, 24-23.
WSU took control in the second half. The Shockers were able to outscore the Eagles 21-12 in the third quarter, before opening up a game-high 15-point advantage with 4:32 left in the contest.
Down 15, the Eagles refused to quite. Stanley, already with four triples, added two more late, bringing her total to six and helping EMU to claw back within nine, 46-55. Although it showed resilience, EMU found itself short on time. Down nine with only three minutes left on the clock, Eastern attempted to make an incredible comeback, but fell short.
After making the trip home to Ypsilanti, EMU will enjoy two off-days before getting back on the court, against Purdue Fort Wayne Tuesday, Dec. 10. The game will be played inside the Convocation Center, and is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU women's hoops, visit EMUEagles.com, and follow the team on social media, at @EMUWBB.
Western Kentucky 91, Ball State 86
Box Score
MUNCIE, Ind. – Dee Givens piled up a Worthen Arena record 41 points to lead visiting Western Kentucky to a 91-86 overtime win over the Ball State women's basketball team Saturday afternoon.
Givens, who entered the game averaging 15.3 points per game, went 14-of-28 (50 percent) from the field and 6-of-14 (42.8 percent) from behind the arc. Her point and field goal totals were both career highs. Ball State's Jamie Lehotsky held the previous Worthen Arena record of 35 points which was set back in 1994 against Chicago State.
WKU has now won seven of its last eight games to move to 7-2 overall. Ball State falls to 4-4.
Givens had the chance to end the game in regulation but missed a floater in the lane at the buzzer. In the extra period, she nailed a pair of crucial 3-pointers. The second trifecta gave the Hilltoppers an 87-80 lead with 1:37 left. The Cardinals would only get as close as four points the rest of the way.
The Cardinals were on fire in the opening half, shooting 57.6 percent from the floor, and took a 43-38 lead into intermission.
There were seven ties and five lead changes in the second half. WKU used a 10-1 run midway through the fourth quarter to go out in front, 74-69.
The loss spoiled Ball State's best shooting night of the season. The Cardinals connected on 51.5 percent of their shots from the floor. Brown notched season highs in both points (22) and rebounds (14) for her fourth double-double of the year. Sophomore Blake Smith equaled her season high with 10 points, all of which came in the first half. Freshman Sydney Freeman chipped in with eight points and a team season-high seven assists.
This was the seventh straight year these two teams have met on the hardwood. WKU snapped a two-game losing streak to the Cardinals but still trails in the all-time series, 5-4.
Ball State has the next week off to concentrate on fall semester final exams. The Cardinals are back in action on Dec. 18-20 at the Lobo Christmas Classic in Albuquerque, New Mexico, against Loyola Marymount, Providence and New Mexico.
Duquesne 79, Toledo 74
Box Score
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Toledo women's basketball sustained a tough 79-74 setback at Duquesne on Saturday in the Kerr Fitness Center on the campus of La Roche University. With the loss, the Rockets fall to 2-5 on the season.
The Midnight Blue & Gold trailed by 14 points, 66-52, with 7:55 left in regulation before going on a 19-6 run to make the score 72-71 at the 1:35 mark.
Toledo had a chance to take its first lead since the opening minutes on its ensuing possession, but the Midnight Blue & Gold was guilty of a turnover.
The Dukes' Amaya Hamilton and Paige Cannon retaliated with two free throws each, while the Rockets missed their next shot and had another miscue to essentially end any hopes of a comeback.
"I'm very proud of my team for clawing its way back into the game," Head Coach Tricia Cullop said. "Despite being a young team, we found a way to make it a game at the end. I think that kind of effort shows how much poise we have, but we just have to execute better down the stretch."
Junior Nakiah Black paced Toledo with a season-high 20 points, followed by senior Mariella Santucci, freshman Soleil Barnes and junior Tanaya Beacham with 13, a season-high 10 and nine, respectively.
"Nakiah is such a positive leader, especially for our young players," Cullop said. "You have to love how fierce of a competitor she is."
Black converted an efficient 7-of-11 shots from the field in a season-best 37 minutes, including 2-of-4 from three-point land, and 4-of-5 from the charity stripe to surpass the 20-point plateau for the fourth time as a Rocket. A two-time team captain, Black narrowly missed posting her first-collegiate double-double, pulling down a team-high seven boards.
As a team, the Rockets shot 48.1 percent (26-of-54) from the floor, including 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from beyond the arc, and a season-high a season-high 80.0 percent (16-of-20) from the free throw line.
Amanda Kalin led Duquesne with a contest-tying best 20 points, while Libby Bazelak had 17.
