Since the season began, the Buffalo women's basketball team has kept its bags packed. The team has played at home only once this season, and has yet to enjoy a true home court advantage.
Unfortunately for the Bulls, the team was unable to end its early season road stretch with a victory. Buffalo fell to the Cleveland State Vikings (2-5), 55-47, in Cleveland, Ohio. Despite a strong effort on defense, the Bulls (2-5) couldn't stay with the Vikings down the stretch. Cleveland State capitalized on Buffalo's poor shooting and held the Bulls to only four points in the last 6:18.
"You can't miss lay-ups and you can't miss free throws," said head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald. "We certainly had the opportunity to win it. But when you don't make your higher percentage shots it's a problem."
Poor shooting plagued the Bulls throughout the game as Buffalo connected on only 30 percent of its shots from the field, including only 2-13 from three-point territory. In addition to struggling from the field, the Bulls also missed 13 free throws, going 11-24.
The game was close throughout as the two teams remained tied deep into the second half. Buffalo held a brief five-point lead in the first half and the game went into halftime tied at 21. Overall there were 10 lead changes in the game.
The two teams went back and fourth throughout the second half. Neither team went ahead by more than four for most of the final 20 minutes, and the game was tied with just over six minutes left. But over the next five minutes, the Bulls would manage only a single point, as the game would slip away.
Cleveland State went on an 11-2 run over a six-minute period, giving the Vikings a nine-point lead with under a minute remaining. Over the last 6:18 of the game, the Bulls missed seven of 10 free throws.
While they struggled on offense, the Bulls were able to cause turnovers and make stops defensively. The Vikings shot only 34 percent from the field and made only one of eight three point shots. In addition the Bulls forced 13 turnovers in the game.
The Bulls were led by strong play inside as junior forward Heather Turner finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. In addition, freshman forward and Ohio native Kourtney Brown had career-highs with 12 points and a team leading nine rebounds.
"I'm impressed with Kourtney (Brown) everyday," Hill-MacDonald said. "She's very coachable. She works so hard and it's good to see her in her hometown and have a good game in front of friends and family."
The Vikings were led by strong team play as Cleveland's bench outscored the Bulls, 18-8, in the contest. Every player recorded a rebound and all but one player scored in the game for the Vikings. Stephanie Crosley led the Vikings with 13 points and Stephanie Youdath added a team-high seven rebounds.
Over the next month the Bulls will be able to enjoy the comforts of home and Buffalo's beautiful December weather. After playing six of their first seven games on the road, the Bulls will play their next four games at Alumni Arena. Their next road game won't fall until December 29th when they travel to Lewisburg, Penn. to play Bucknell.
"It's nice to get home," Hill MacDonald said. "November was a grueling month in terms of our travel and the way the games were stacked. It's always nice to get home and play in front of our hometown fans and our students."
This weekend the Bulls will begin their home stand against local rival Niagara University. The Purple Eagles come in with a 5-1 record and in first-place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Last season the Bulls easily beat the Purple Eagles at the Gallagher Center in Lewiston, N.Y. by a score of 68-45.
The game will begin this Saturday at Alumni Arena at 5 p.m. The men's will follow the women's game at 7 p.m.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
