Wednesday's Scoreboard
Buffalo 65, Bowling Green 59
Toledo 65, Akron 61
Central Michigan 66, Ball State 39
Eastern Michigan 80, Miami 53
Kent State 79, Northern Illinois 71
Western Michigan 73, Ohio 72
Stories Courtesy of MAC Sports Information
Buffalo 65, Bowling Green 59
Box Score
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's basketball team (11-4, 2-2 MAC) outscored Bowling Green 21-14 in the fourth quarter to defeat the Falcons 65-59 on Alzheimer's Awareness night at Alumni Arena on Wednesday.
Buffalo was led by freshman Dyaisha Fair who scored a game-high 26 points to go along with seven rebounds, two assists and three steals. Sophomore Adebola Adeyeye had another double-digit effort on the glass as she grabbed 11 rebounds to go with nine points and senior Theresa Onwuka also turned in a double digit rebounding performance with 11 boards, while scoring seven points and recording three steals.
"We are a deep team and if we stay locked in and we can use those eight or nine players like we did today, that will continue to help us down the stretch," said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "Bowling Green is a great team but we had more depth."
The Falcons jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, but Buffalo answered with an 8-0 run of their own to take an 8-5 lead at the first media timeout. The Bulls would take advantage of a six-plus minute BGSU scoring drought to extend their lead to 17-5 on a pair of threes by Fair and Schiffer before the Falcons would knock down a three to end the run, but UB would maintain a 17-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Sophomore Keowa Walters made an impact to start the second quarter with back-to-back buckets to give UB a 21-10 lead before BGSU rattled off a 6-0 run to cut the UB lead to 21-16, but Schiffer answered with another dagger from behind the arc to start a 5-2 run to extend the lead to 26-18 at the media timeout. The Falcons put together another 6-0 run to cut the lead to two at the 1:17 mark, before Fair knocked down a jumper in the lane to end a five minute UB scoring drought and spark a 6-0 Bulls run to close the half to give Buffalo a 32-24 lead at the break.
The Bulls would extend their lead to 10 early in the third quarter on back-to-back buckets by Onwuka and Adeyeye but BGSU would respond with an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 38-34 at the media timeout. BGSU would extend their run to 15-2 out of the media and take a 44-40 lead at the 1:47 mark. Fair would drill a step back triple to tie the game at 44 but a BGSU free throw would give the Falcons a 45-44 lead at the end of the third.
The two teams would trade baskets to start the fourth quarter before Fair knocked down a three to tie the game at 49 with 7:58 remaining. Bowling Green capitalized on a two plus minute UB scoring drought and put together a 7-2 run to take a 56-51 lead at the final media timeout, but Buffalo responded with a 6-0 run in less than a minute to retake the lead 57-56 with 3:25 remaining. Later, back-to-back transition buckets by Hanna Hall and Fair would put UB up by one and freshman Loren Christie would deliver the dagger, drilling a triple from the corner as the shot clock expired to cap a 12-0 UB run and give the Bulls a 63-56 lead and that would be all they would need to secure the victory.
Buffalo has now held eight of its opponents to 59 points or less and are a perfect 47-0 over the last three years when holding opponents under that mark. The Bulls won the battle on the glass 49-40 while scoring 18 points in the fastbreak.
"Our team played hard tonight and it was really special to do it on this Alzheimer's Awareness night in honor of a woman named Thalia Legette, my mom," said Legette-Jack. "She is a passionate woman who worked two jobs and would leave her second job to come watch me play and if she could come and watch these young ladies, she would be all about it. The team went out there and played for themselves and their families but I think they played for a lady named Thalia Legette as well and I'm so excited and grateful for the flowers they presented me with."
The Bulls conclude their homestand on Saturday, January 18, as they welcome Eastern Michigan to Alumni Arena at 2pm.
Toledo 65, Akron 61
Box Score
Central Michigan 66, Ball State 39
Box Score
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Offense has been the calling card for the Central Michigan women's basketball team throughout the 2019-20 season.
On Wednesday, the Chippewas showed they can play some defense, too.
CMU held Ball State to 14 second-half points in posting a 66-39 victory at McGuirk Arena, winning a battle of the last two remaining unbeaten teams in Mid-American Conference play.
"I thought that that was a perfectly executed game plan for us defensively," CMU coach Heather Oesterle said. "Our players are really bought-in right now. We tell them we want to take this, this and this away (from an opponent), and they're going out and they're executing the game plan.
"I'm just really proud of the way they've bought in and they're believing what we're telling them."
It was the Chippewas' fourth consecutive win as they improved to 11-4, 4-0 MAC. They entered the game tied with the Cardinals atop the MAC West.
CMU has won 11 of its last 12 games after an 0-3 start and goes to rival Western Michigan on Saturday (2 p.m.) for a league game.
"It is a long season," said junior Kyra Bussell, who led the Chippewas with 15 points and eight rebounds. "I think it's important to keep our heads down and grind and keep focused on the game that's coming up, not get too far ahead, not think about where we are right now.
"Yeah it's cool that we're 4-0, but that's not what we're focused on right now. This is a good win, but we're focused on the next game."
Eastern Michigan 80, Miami 53
Box Score
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team notched its third Mid-American Conference win as it put up its most productive opening quarter (29 points) since November, 2019 en route to an 80-53 final over Miami University, tonight, Jan. 15. For EMU, 80 points is the most scored by the team against a conference rival this season. In addition, the obstinate Eagle defense held the RedHawks to its lowest offensive production thus far.
Eastern (8-7; 3-1 MAC) appears to be hitting its stride as it boasts a 6-1 record in its last seven games, winning by an average margin of 16 points during that stretch.
Junior Autumn Hudson (Richwood, Ohio-North Union) recorded a career-high in points (14) and field goal makes (7), while simultaneously tying her career-high in steals with two. Her 14-point effort tied for the team lead in scoring, the second time she has accomplished that feat in her three-year Eagle career. Freshman Aaliyah Stanley (Boynton Beach, Fla.-Oxbridge Academy) reached double-digits in scoring for the ninth time with 12 points and paced the team in steals with three. Redshirt junior Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)) produced 14 points, while dishing out four assists on the night. The Oklahoma City native has now scored in double figures in each of the nine contests she has participated in this season. Sophomore Natalia Pineda (Miami, Fla.-John A. Ferguson) was a threat from deep, nailing 3-of-6 from beyond the three-point arc.
Eastern Michigan finished shooting 29-of-68 (42.6%) to Miami's 19-of-57 (33.3%). EMU secured the rock as well, turning the ball over just 13 times while forcing 26 RedHawks' turnovers. EMU has forced 155 turnovers during its most recent seven-game stretch, good for an average of over 22 per game. The Green and White also held the advantage in the following categories: points in the paint (42-20), points off turnovers (32-12), second-chance points (8-6), and fast-break points (6-2).
In the contest, four Eagles nabbed at least two steals, resulting in twelve steals overall. Meanwhile, five players finished the night scoring in double-digit in Combs (14), Hudson (14), Pineda (13), Stanley (12), and redshirt junior Corrione Cardwell (Cleveland, Ohio-New Tech East) added 11, respectively.
All five starters for EMU got on the board in the first five minutes resulting of play, leading to a 12-2 opening stretch. Eastern continued to put on a splendid display of shooting, finishing the first quarter 11-for-17 from the field.
The Eagles did not step off the gas, leading by 28 points halfway through the second quarter. The RedHawks struggled early against the relentless Eagles' defense, unable to muster a bucket until the 3:40 mark of second quarter action. Sophomore Kiara Johnson (Towanda, N.Y.- Cardinal O'Hara) brought energy to EMU during the defensive stanza with a defiant block and three rebounds.
In the third quarter, Eastern recorded an assist on six of its 10 scores. Hudson proved dominant in the paint, registering eight points in the third quarter alone. Cardwell also recorded an efficient quarter, adding six points and an assist of her own.
The Eagle offense reached its summit with its largest lead of the game at 32 points (70-38) with seven minutes left in the game. EMU finished the game at the line, where it sealed the 80-53 victory.
Up next, the Green and White travel east for a MAC contest against Buffalo. Tipoff between the Eagles and Bulls is set for Saturday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m.
Kent State 79, Northern Illinois 71
Box Score
DEKALB, Ill. – Sophomore Hannah Young pulled down three crucial defensive rebounds in the final 30 seconds to help Kent State hold off a late Northern Illinois rally and leave the Convocation Center with a 79-71 victory on Wednesday night.
The Golden Flashes (9-6, 2-2 MAC) extended the lead to 15 with 2:19 to play following two free throws by Lindsey Thall that concluded a possession that featured four offensive rebounds and took more than a minute off the clock. The host Huskies answered with a quick 11-0 run. Freshmen Nila Blackford shook off a turnover that gave NIU the ball with 41.7 remaining in a 75-71 game with terrific individual defense against All-MAC wing Courtney Woods on the next two plays, forcing missed shots that were rebounded by Young.
"We went into panic mode a little bit there at the end but found a way to win," head coach Todd Starkey said. "Any road win in the league is good. This is my first time winning here. It's a tough building to come into and get a win. Northern Illinois is much better than its record and a dangerous team."
Asiah Dingle paced Kent State with 20 points and five steals. The sophomore's quick hands were part of a defense that forced 24 giveaways, as Kent State led 33-18 in points off turnovers.
Freshman Nila Blackford scored the majority of her 19 points around the basket to lead the Flashes to a 42-22 advantage in paint points. Classmate Katie Shumate added 11 points and seven boards. Both players shared the team lead with four assists.
Kent State received 21 points off the bench, the most against a Division I opponent this season. Hannah Young provided a huge lift and totaled 14 points and eight rebounds to match her previous career-best in both categories.
The Flashes will remain on the road and visit Miami on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Western Michigan 73, Ohio 72
Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Western Michigan women's basketball team defeated Ohio 73-72 with a thrilling shot in the final seconds from Leighah-Amori Wool on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at University Arena.
With the Bobcats up 72-71 with 12 seconds remaining, the Broncos brought the ball in-bounds to Wool, who hooked a layup in the paint as the game wound down to give the Broncos the victory seconds away from the buzzer.
"It was a slugfest, no question about it… we just made one play more than they did and came up with a big win at the end," Head Coach Shane Clipfell commented. "We held on just long enough and made enough plays- we ran into a perfect situation as Leighah got the ball, and she made a tough shot."
WMU was led by the double-digit performances from four of the team's five starters. Wool led the team with 17 points off a 50 percent (5-of-10) shooting mark with two made baskets from long range. She added seven rebounds, four assists, and a team-high two blocks to her numbers on the night. Redshirt senior Breanna Mobley earned her 12th double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds, paced by 6-of-10 shooting. Kamrin Reed tallied 12 points while Jordan Walker had 11 and tied for a team-high five assists with graduate transfer Chelayne Bailey.
The Broncos shot 44.6 percent from the field (25-of-56) and 38.2 percent from long-range (13-34), tying a season-high. WMU out-rebounded their opponents 39-31, bringing in 11 points off the bench and 20 points in the paint. Reed, Walker, and Maddie Watters each had three made three-pointers, Watters leading from the bench in scoring with nine points total.
Wednesday's contest saw 17 lead changes and nine ties in 40 minutes of play, with the score being held at a tie for at least six total minutes of the game.
The Bobcats started out with the advantage, shooting 52.9 percent in the first quarter with six points scored off Bronco turnovers. WMU fought back with back-to-back threes from Watters and Reed, but Ohio had the upper hand 21-15 at the end of the quarter after a 6-0 scoring run.
WMU brought some fire into the second quarter, outscoring the Bobcats 14-11. Maddie Watters sunk her second three-pointer after Walker's three to tie the game at 21-21. Another three, this time from Reed, kept the Broncos at pace with their opponent until the final minute of the half, with Ohio scoring five straight points to head into the locker room with a 32-29 advantage.
The Broncos re-tied the game straight out of the gate with another three from Reed and a layup by Mobley. Ohio strung together an 8-0 run for their biggest lead of the game a few minutes into the third quarter, but WMU made up the deficit after back-to-back threes from Walker and Wool, her first of the game. On her next possession, Wool sunk another shot behind the arc to put the Broncos behind by a single point heading into the final frame.
Ohio took a four-point advantage into the first seconds of the quarter with a made layup and extra foul shot. Chelayne Bailey came in clutch with her first three-point shot of the game and another on her next scoring possession to put WMU up by two. Capping off a 7-0 run for the Broncos was wool with an and-one to take a 69-67 lead. Ohio eventually re-tied the game at 71-71 with a minute left to play, taking the upper hand after a made foul shot by Cierra Hooks. Wool nabbed the rebound off the second shot attempt, leading to the game-winning layup for the Brown & Gold.
"If someone had told me we'd be 3-1 going into our fifth game, having had to play two on the road and two at home… I'd take it," Clipfell said. "This is a conference that is going to continue to be very difficult every night you step on the court."
The Broncos are back at home on Saturday (Jan. 18) to take on Central Michigan University, the last undefeated team in the conference with a 4-0 mark. Tipoff inside University Arena is set for 2:00 p.m.
