This was the first time I had the opportunity to watch Buffalo women's basketball. They haven't been good lately and started slow this year as well. But they pushed to a 5-2 MAC record, at one time holding the lead in the MAC East. The verdict: they're a plucky team. They have one senior who plays marginal minutes (Nicki Hopkins) and the rest of the team is a decent nucleus.
Every bit of apprehension I had prior to this game was realized; Bowling Green had to play really well to win this one on the road. They pulled out to a nice lead in the first half but UB never relented. Maybe the Falcons eased up, but whatever the reason, the Bulls got back into the game quick, turning an 11-point lead into just a one-point deficit come early in the second half. But the strange thing was UB never led in this game. Yet in no one aspect were they blown out of the water — an otherwise commonality in this series, which now has the orange and brown winning 17 straight. After the game was close, nobody really was able to make a power move, which made BG's first half run all the more important.
But for much of the second half, this felt like the BG-Akron game all over again: a team they've routinely handled finally having their day. Fortunately I was wrong, but it seems like Buffalo will beat Bowling Green one of these days.
Nobody particularly shone for BG, but Alexis Rogers had another strong performance: nine points on seven shots, eight rebounds (six offensive) and five steals. Chrissy Steffen led the way with 14 points and Jillian Halfhill paced the offense with seven points, six assists and nine rebounds.
For Buffalo, Mackenzie Loesing had a terrify performance: 20 points, nine rebounds. Christa Baccas was a pest inside, blocking six shots to go with seven points and eight rebounds. UB actually shot better as an entire team, especially from 3-point range.
BG is now 6-3 in the MAC and moves into a tie with Akron and Miami. Next up for them are couple of trap road games at WMU and NIU. Both should beef up their record. Buffalo goes to 5-4 and gets a pissed off CMU game next.