by NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The University at Buffalo women’s basketball team (8-2, 0-0 MAC) was upended on the road against the Niagara Purples on Monday night, 75-62. Cassie Oursler led the Bulls with 16 points, three rebounds and three blocks.
The difference in the game on Monday was the Purple Eagles free throw shooting as they were able to shoot lights out from the charity stripe going 20-for-21.
The Buffalo offense had a slow start on Monday night after Cassie Oursler tied the game at four early on. The Purple Eagles were able to go on an 11-2 run to open things up as Niagara held onto the 15-6 lead. Oursler finished off a layup but the Purple Eagles closed to quarter with four straight free throws to take the 19-8 lead into the second quarter.
UB was able to creep back into the game a couple minutes into the second quarter as they went on a 9-2 run to make the score 25-20 and force a timeout. The Bulls couldn’t get any closer down the stretch of the first half as a Summer Hemphill (Seneca Nation) jumper was the final score of the first half, sending the teams to the locker room with Niagara ahead 35-24.
The two teams exchanged buckets at the start of the third before UB was able to make their move towards a comeback midway through the quarter. Trailing by 11, the Bulls were able to go on a 9-2 run that was capped by a layup and free throw from Stephanie Reid to make the score 47-43 in favor of the Purple Eagles. Niagara didn’t let UB get any closer as they drilled three free throws and a three pointer at the buzzer to head to the final quarter up 10.
Back-to-back buckets by Oursler and Hemphill cut the Niagara lead to eight, 55-47, but the Purple Eagles were able to weather the storm once again and ran away with their second win of the season.
Oursler led all UB players with 16 points, three rebounds and three blocks while Hemphill finished off her night with 15 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Reid was able to finish with nine points, six assists, two rebounds and two steals while Dillard was held to seven points, six assists, four steals and four rebounds in the loss.
As a team, Niagara was able to shoot 43.5% from the floor while UB was limited to just 41.3% shooting. The Bulls lost the turnover battle 24-21 while Niagara also won the fast break scoring category, 8-6. The Purple Eagles also notched 39 rebounds including 13 offensive rebounds while UB earned only 36 boards.
Victoria Rampado led all scorers with 27 points and nine rebounds for the Purple Eagles while Kaylee Stroemple notched 19 points and three rebounds in the win.
Buffalo will wrap up their five-game streak against teams from the state of New York on Thursday morning as they travel to New York City for their non-conference finale against St. John’s. Thursday’s game will tip at 11:00 am.
