Think about all the miraculous comebacks you have ever seen in the world of sport. Did the team that lost the game play well down the stretch? No. Comebacks are a two-way street. It takes rejuvenation on one side and a collapse on the other to make them happen.
Saturday afternoon, the Central Michigan Chippewas experienced a second half rejuvenation, but the UB Bulls did not co-operate with the comeback attempt. Buffalo hit all 10 of their free throws in the final five minutes of play to hold off CMU, 64-54 Saturday afternoon before 714 fans at the Rose Arena and pick up their fourth-straight win.
After trailing by as many as 18, the Chippewas pulled within six on a couple occasions during the game's final 10 minutes thanks to a 7-11 performance from 3-point range in the second half. The Bulls, however, made all six of their free throws in the final minute of the game, and were 15-17 from the line in the contest.
The Bulls (7-6 Mid-American Conference) sit in a three-way tie for fifth overall in the conference with Northern Illinois (7-6) and Eastern Michigan (7-6). The three teams are all 1-1 against each other and, at press time, the secondary tiebreaker method for a three-way tie was not known.
In any event, the Bulls are two wins away from clinching a home game in the first round of the MAC Tournament. Teams seeded No. 4-8 host the teams seeded No. 9-13 in the first round with the winners advancing to join the top three teams in Cleveland for the quarterfinal round.
Those two wins, however, may be hard to come by. UB has a favorable match-up against last-place Akron (1-12) at home Wednesday, but must travel to Miami (Ohio) (9-4) and host Kent State (8-5) for their final two games. Miami (Ohio) and KSU are the top two teams in the East Division. The Bulls also are not mathematically eliminated from contention for the East Division title and a first round bye in the MAC Tournament, and the games remaining against Kent State and Miami change the probability of that outcome from improbable to possible.
Marshall, currently seeded ninth, is the only team that can catch the Bulls for the eighth seed. The Thundering Herd (5-8) would have to sweep their final three games of the season and hope Buffalo loses at least two of their last three. The teams would then tie with 8-8 records and Marshall would win the tie-breaker thanks to their 62-59 overtime win on Jan. 8. MU finishes with road games at Bowling Green (4-9) and Miami (Ohio), and has a home date with Akron.
UB senior Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe led all scorers with 22 points. Forward Kim Kilpela had her second double-double in her last three games with 11 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.
McMeeken-Ruscoe scored six points during a 10-0 UB run early in the first half that broke the game open. She then scored 10-stright Bulls points as they extended their run to 18-3, making the score 24-9 with 4:11 left in the half.
With the Bulls ahead by their largest margin, 18 points, CMU hit four 3-pointers - three by Erin Kuhl - in four minutes to cut UB's lead to 42-36 with 9:58 to play. The Chippewas would close to within six one more time, but Buffalo's free throw shooting kept CMU from getting any closer.
"We did what we wanted to do and what we needed to do today to win," said UB head coach Cheryl Dozier. "We got out of the gate well again like we did at Ohio on Wednesday. I thought we did a good job of setting the tempo in the game, we ran when we could, we pounded the ball inside and we rebounded well. This is another huge road win for us at a critical time in the season."
Jessica Kochendorfer was the third UB player in double figures with 13 points. She also had nine rebounds.
Kuhl was the only CMU player in double figures with 17 points. She was 5-8 from 3-point range for the game.
Buffalo's game against Akron is Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in Alumni Arena. The Zips are 1-12 in the MAC and 2-22 on the season.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
