The athletic department's budget for paper is going to skyrocket in the coming days, because a few members of the women's basketball team have rewritten the record books.
A commanding performance by senior forward Kourtney Brown helped the Bulls (10-10, 3-4 Mid-American Conference) outlast Central Michigan (12-7, 4-3 MAC), 92-89, on the road at McGuirk Arena.
Brown became Buffalo's all-time leading scorer midway through the first half on a layup that tied the game. She finished the game with her 13th double-double of the season, scoring 33 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. She also had six assists, three blocked shots, and two assists.
When Brown first came to Buffalo, she never could have envisioned the success she has had, but she continues to put the team above her personal accomplishments.
"I'm excited [about the records]," Brown said. "It's kind of crazy that it happened. I never thought, coming here, that I would be able to do that. It's even more exciting that we got a win out of it."
The senior phenom broke the previous record held by former Bulls guard Brenna Doty by topping her 1,703-point mark. Brown's total after the game sits at 1,730, but it will surely be inflated as the season progresses.
If one record wasn't enough, Brown also broke the program's record for career rebounds. She only needed one rebound to break the 30-year old record of 982, set by former Bulls forward Janet Lilley.
The team captain's 998 rebounds put her two shy of becoming the first Bulls player to record 1,000 boards.
Bulls head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald stressed how crucial Brown is to Buffalo's success.
"You know what you get when she's out on the floor," Hill-MacDonald said. "She is the focus of everyone's defense, and she continues to produce game after game."
Senior forward Jessica Fortman joined Brown in the record books. Her 19 points in the game earned her entry into the Bulls' 1,000-point club.
Hill-MacDonald was sure to stress how dependable Fortman is every time she steps onto the court.
"The one thing you know about [Fortman] is that every time she steps on the court, she's there to play her heart out," Hill-MacDonald said. "You always know what you get when she's on the floor. So you know she's coming to play, and she's going to execute everything you tell her to."
Heading into intermission, the Bulls led the Chippewas, 51-42, after a Buffalo offensive onslaught. Buffalo maintained its composure and wouldn't let Central Michigan reclaim the lead down the stretch.
Hill-MacDonald attributed the win to the team's execution on both ends of the court, as well as the success of containing the Chippewas' top scorer, Kaihla Szunko.
"We knew what we needed to do against this team, and I think the girls really executed the game plan to perfection," Hill-MacDonald said. "They got some wide-open opportunities, but not very many, and I thought we did a great job containing their penetrators for the most part. We took Szunko out of the game for most of the 40 minutes."
Brown and Fortman were not the only players to turn in great performances. Senior guard Ashley Zuber scored a career-high 15 points, and senior forward Bridgette Kendricks had nine points and nine rebounds in the contest.
Hill-MacDonald spoke about how Kendricks had been challenged by her coach to hit the glass with more intensity.
"I'd been challenging Bridgette a little bit to go to the boards," Hill-MacDonald said. "I was a little disappointed in her last game [against Toledo], but today I am extremely pleased."
Buffalo will seek to continue its momentum when the team hosts Ball State on Saturday. Game two of the Bulls' basketball doubleheader will tip off at 2:30 p.m.
E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of UB Athletics
