Story Courtesy of Buffalo Athletic Communications
BUFFALO, NY – Powered by yet another double-digit comeback, the University at Buffalo women's basketball team (28-7) defeated Rutgers 71-64 in front of a lively Alumni Arena crowd on Sunday afternoon.
It is UB's first Power 4 win since the Bulls defeated Syracuse in 2022 and is their first Big Ten win since Buffalo defeated Rutgers in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
Fifth year guard Chellia Watson turned in another stellar performance as she scored a game-high 28 points, including 11-of-12 from the free throw line. Sophomore Kirsten Lewis-Williams also scored in double figures with 17 points, 9-of-9 from the charity stripe. Senior Terah Harness scored in double figures for the second straight game with 10 points, including three makes from beyond the arc, and Noelani Cornfield stuffed the stat sheet, scoring seven points to go with six rebounds and seven assists.
The Scarlet Knights jumped out to a 9-4 lead before Watson answered with a deep triple and Lewis-Williams raced up the court for a fastbreak bucket plus the foul to give the Bulls a 12-11 lead at the media timeout. The visitors would score on their next two possessions to retake the lead, but Buffalo answered as Watson drilled a deep triple to tie the game at 15 before she got to the free throw line in the final seconds to pull UB within three at the end of the first.
The Scarlet Knights went on a 7-0 run to start the second quarter to take a double-digit lead, but Buffalo continued to chip away as Lewis-Williams got to the rim for a layup and then Sitota Gines skied up for an offensive rebound and hit a cutting Cornfield for an and-one bucket to pull UB within six at the media timeout. The teams would trade defensive stops from there as Rutgers maintained a 34-27 lead at the half.
Lewis-Williams scored on UB's first two possessions of the third quarter to pull Buffalo within three. After a sloppy few minutes from both teams Harness drilled a corner triple to pull the Bulls within four at the media timeout. Buffalo continued to fight as they rattled off a 7-0 run, capped by a Harness corner three, to cut the lead to one and force a Rutgers timeout at the 1:49 mark but the visitors scored in the final seconds to take a 45-42 lead at the end of the third.
Watson knocked down a floater in the lane on the first possession of the quarter to put UB back on top. Senior Ariana Seawell then powered up for a layup through contact and Harness drilled a three on the wing to put UB up by two. Seawell continued to work inside as she got a bucket off glass and then Watson got to the free throw line to give the Bulls a 55-51 lead at the final media timeout. Watson continued to show out as she scored in the lane before knocking down a three to put UB up by nine and the Bulls would seal the game at the free throw line going 8-for-8 over the final two minutes.
Buffalo did what they do best, turning defense into offense as they forced 14 turnovers and scored 18 points off those miscues. The Bulls made their mark at the charity stripe as UB went 27-of-30 from the line on the afternoon, while continuing to excel in transition, scoring 27 fastbreak points.
"Games like today are why we work so hard all season," said head coach Becky Burke. "To see their work shine through in the brightest moment makes me really happy. This team is so special, and we showed we belong with the best. Thankful for an incredible crowd once again, as they played a huge factor.
Up next, Buffalo will face the winner of Cleveland State and Purdue Fort Wayne in the Fab 4 on Wednesday, April 2. Time and location to be determined.
