The women's basketball team took an opportunity to honor its seniors and beat down a conference rival all in the same night.
Saying that this game was exciting would be an understatement, as Buffalo (15-13, 8-7 Mid-American Conference) overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Ohio (7-21, 3-12 MAC) by the score of 70-65.
The Bulls' secret weapon, senior forward Bridgette Kendricks, showed why she is just that as she came out scoring Buffalo's first five points and collecting the team's first four rebounds. Sophomore guard Nicki Hopkins put on a sharpshooting display with three consecutive 3-pointers.
Dissatisfied with the large margin, the Bobcats closed out the half on a 31-10 run to lead at intermission, 35-26. Ohio's defense was relentless as it forced seven Buffalo turnovers and held senior forward Kourtney Brown scoreless, allowing her to grab only two rebounds.
Brown was able to compensate for her lack of offense by swatting five Ohio shots in the first half en route to a career-high nine blocks. Not to let the team's production suffer, Kendricks managed to grab the rebounds that Ohio did not let Brown get to.
Head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald was proud of the senior's performance and acknowledged Kendricks' development.
"Bridgette has just grown as a player," Hill-MacDonald said. "It is unbelievable to me how much she has grown. Her performance today is something we have been waiting to see on a consistent basis, and today she showed what she is really made of."
Kendricks grabbed nine boards and recorded seven points in the first half. Hopkins was the leading scorer with 15 points coming via five 3-pointers, which tied her career-high for triples hit in a game.
The highlight of the Bulls' team this season has been its extraordinary chemistry, and Hopkins epitomized that Saturday. She knew she had to step up and make her shots count for her upperclassmen.
"We were struggling in the first half," Hopkins said. "I knew that when I went in I just had to knock down those shots to keep us in the game, and I really wanted to get a win for the seniors."
The Bulls started the second half with eight unanswered points to come within one point of the Bobcats. Ohio guard Tenishia Benson, who was the leading scorer for the game with 23, ended the drought with a jump shot from the wing, but that would be the last time Ohio led for the rest of the game.
The Bobcats could not maintain the pressure they applied to Brown in the first half. She exploded for 15 points and five rebounds in the second, while continuing her dominating defensive performance. The Bulls also outrebounded Ohio by 14 in the second half, with senior guard Ashley Zuber contributing a career-high of eight.
Of the 26 made field goals in the contest for the Bulls, 20 were assisted. Zuber and senior forward Jessica Fortman each contributed seven assists, which marked a season-high for Fortman.
Brown's 15 points brought her within 17 of the Buffalo record amongst men and women for most points scored all-time, and her nine swats brought her within one of the MAC record for career blocks. Hopkins was the Bulls' points leader with 17, and Kendricks would finish with an impressive 11 points and game- and career-highs of 12 rebounds.
Kendricks knew what she was capable of going into the contest and took the opportunity on Saturday to let everybody else know.
"I wanted to show people that I can go out there and rebound," Kendricks said. "That's my job when I get out there on the court."
The Bulls head to Bowling Green (24-4, 12-3 MAC) for their last game of the season on Wednesday, before returning to Buffalo for the first round of the MAC Tournament next Saturday.
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