It took five extra minutes to decide Saturday's contest between Buffalo and the Toledo Rockets. The game included 10 ties, seven lead changes and a 70-70 score at the end of regulation. However, in overtime, the Rockets took off, handing the Bulls a tough 85-77 road loss.
During the extra period, the Bulls went up 77-74, following a lay-up by junior forward Heather Turner with 3:20 left. Yet, Buffalo (6-12, 1-5 Mid-American Conference) would not score again and Toledo (7-11, 3-3 MAC) finished the game on an 11-0 run and handed the Bulls their seventh loss in their last nine games.
Junior guard Stephanie Bennett led the team with 19 points by going 6-10 from three-point range. The six threes tied her career-high for three-point shots made in a game.
"She had 13 rebounds six of which were offensive and put backs," said Buffalo head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald. "She created probably four of her own baskets by getting someone else's miss."
While those numbers are efficient, Hill-MacDonald believes it illustrates a lack of touches for a great inside player.
"We have to find ways to get the ball inside to Heather Turner," Hill-MacDonald said. "We preach it. We preach it. The perimeter players have to create angles, create spacing to get Heather the basketball. Going 8-8 it's ridiculous she's only getting eight shots."
To start the game, the Bulls jumped out to a 6-0 lead, before Toledo immediately stormed back with a 15-3 run. The Rockets ended the half with a 31-24 advantage over the Bulls.
Less than three minutes into the second half the Bulls fell behind by 10 points, 40-30. Yet over the next four minutes, Buffalo would completely erase the lead with a 10-0 run, to tie the game at 40.
The teams would go back and fourth for the rest of the match, as they found themselves tied at 70 with more than one minute left. But both teams failed to finish the game in regulation despite each having opportunities.
The Bulls started strong through the first two minutes of overtime. Despite their fast start they faded down the stretch as the Rockets were able to take over in the last three minutes, not allowing the Bulls any points.
"We had good looks at the basket," Hill-MacDonald said. "We missed some lay-ups. We missed some free throws. The game was closer than the point margin indicates. We had to foul and they hit free throws at the end. That widened the margin. At this point in the season you certainly hope your team is conditioned enough to go for 45 minutes."
Toledo was led by guards Danielle Bishop and Diana Reindi, who combined for 41 points. Forward Savannah Werner added 10 rebounds along with 16 points.
The victory for Toledo is its 10th win in their last 11 games against Buffalo, including its win against the Bulls in the first round of the MAC Tournament last season. However, revenge was never a motive for the Bulls.
"We didn't even talk about that," Hill-MacDonald said. "Their team is different from a year ago. Our team is playing differently than a year ago. It wasn't a factor in my mind and I don't think the players had any thought of that at all."
Senior guard Belinda Gibb recorded team-high seven assists to go along with 11 points. Sophomore forward Jamie Schiebner, a member of the Mid-American Conference All-Freshman team last season, filled up the stat sheet. Schiebner scored nine points to go along with nine rebounds, six assists and six steals.
"She's been in the starting lineup over the last three games," Hill-MacDonald said. "She certainly has met our expectations for her and I think that shows across the stat line."
Since beginning conference play on Jan. 3, the Bulls are 1-5, including two tough losses this past week. On Jan. 17, the Bulls fell at home by just three points to rival Kent State.
The Bulls will try to change their fortunes with one more road game Wednesday night at Eastern Michigan before playing three straight games at Alumni Arena. The first game of the home stand is Jan. 27 at 2 p.m. against Northern Illinois.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
