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Friday, March 29, 2024
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Bulls beat Kent State 80-42

Bulls win handily at home

<p>Senior guard Lisa Ups works around two Kent State defenders to make a layup. The Bulls beat Kent State 80-42 at home on Wednesday.</p>

Senior guard Lisa Ups works around two Kent State defenders to make a layup. The Bulls beat Kent State 80-42 at home on Wednesday.

It only took the women’s basketball team one quarter to build up a strong lead in a one-sided win over the Kent State Golden Flashes on Wednesday night.

Senior center Cassie Oursler led the team in both scoring and rebounds with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Freshman guard Hanna Hall had a career high 12 points in the game and shot a perfect 4-4. This was the Bulls’ widest margin of victory this season at 38 points.

“When they come together they can knock people out,” said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. “I just think sometimes we go out there and allow a team to be in a game with us. I think this game we never saw our opponent. We saw what we were good at, what we had to do and things we could offer the game, and I think the fans had fun.”

The Bulls (18-4, 9-2 MAC) exchanged baskets and misses in the early goings with both teams getting used to each other. It wasn’t until the final three minutes of the period that the Bulls had 14 unanswered points to take a 25-9 lead.

The Golden Flashes (11-13, 4-8 MAC) played better on defense in the second quarter, but still weren’t enough to stop the Bulls from building on their lead to 41-23. The Bulls used strong passing all game to set up their shots on the perimeter. Oursler, junior guard Cierra Dillard, and sophomore forward Summer Hemphill all had 10 points by the end of the half.

The Bulls expanded their lead to 56-32 in the third. Oursler recorded her tenth rebound of the game in the quarter marking her fifth double-double of the season.

“My team makes it so easy for me out there,” Oursler said. “I hope my performance gives my team more confidence that I can put in the shots they give and know I will get it off the glass.”

The Bulls played fast all night, making quick breaks and playing solid in transition.

Legette-Jack’s biggest concern is how the team played against the 2-2-1 scheme in the second quarter, preventing the players from charging the basket. Yet, she said the team addressed those issues when it came back for the second half.

Both Legette-Jack and the team were hoping to play more fast-paced offense as they did early this season. Legette-Jack said she felt they came close Wednesday night. The Bulls led in scoring every quarter with a one sided 25-9 scoring difference in the first and a 24-10 difference in the fourth.

Not every player had success in the second half though, as Dillard failed to make a basket in the second half, ending the game with 10 points. Senior guard Stephanie Reid had 9 points, a team high 8 assist and 0 turnovers and also led the team from the guard position.

“I think I struggled to push the pace early and that is something I need to improve on,” Reid said. “Honestly, it is not about me. It is about the performance of the team, and today I think we had a really great team win. Everyone showed up to do what they do best.”

With this win, the Bulls stay atop the MAC East Division and two games behind conference leader the Central Michigan Chippewas (19-3, 11-0 MAC). They currently hold the top division spot three games ahead of the Miami of Ohio Redhawks (15-8, 7-5 MAC).

Legette-Jack has seven games left in the season and is hoping to improve upon the team she has, perhaps even looking more towards the bench after Hall’s strong performance.

The Bulls’ next game is on Saturday in an away game against the Redhawks with tipoff scheduled for 1 p.m.

Thomas Zafonte is the senior sports editor and can be reached at thomas.zafonte@ubspectrum.com 


THOMAS ZAFONTE

 Thomas Zafonte is a senior English major. He is a UB sports fan and enjoys traveling around Buffalo. 

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