The women's basketball team celebrated its four seniors on Saturday. But, the decisive moment of the game would fall on the shoulders of a true freshman.
With 13 seconds remaining in the game Alumni Arena was silent. The Bulls (9-20, 4-11 Mid-American Conference) clung to a one-point lead with freshmen forward Christa Baccas at the foul line. Her first attempt touched every part of the rim before eventually finding the bottom of the net. Her second attempt was less dramatic, swishing through effortlessly. The Bulls stole the ball on a futile offensive attempt by Ohio (13-16, 6-9 MAC) and held on for 61-56 victory.
Second half letdowns and poor situational free throw shooting have been crippling issues for the Bulls this season – there was no sign of either on Saturday. The Bulls came out of the second half with an infectious energy and focus.
After trailing by three points at the break, the Bulls – led by senior guards Brittany Hedderson, and Teresa Semalulu – stormed back and took control of the game with an offensive surge that was keyed by an opportunistic defense. The Bulls forced Ohio into 20 turnovers and held it to 33 percent shooting from the field. Buffalo dominated the paint, outscoring Ohio by 16 while connecting on 16-of-19 second period free throws.
Before the game, the seniors were presented with a framed jersey and an honorary rose at center court with their close friends and family. Senior days are always emotional and the Bulls may have been playing with a little too much of it in the first half, committing 12 turnovers.
"I think it was just learning how to settle in [during] the first half," Hedderson said. "The past couple of games I have [been] coming out too intense in the first half, and by the time the second half rolls around I feel as if the pressure has been let off."
The entire team mirrored its leading scorer's sentiment, playing significantly better in the second half, scoring 23 more points than it did in the first. Senior forward Beth Christensen reached double figure rebounding for the 18th time this season, leading the Bulls with 10. She also had three blocks and the game-sealing steal.
Senior guard Ephesia Holmes started for the third consecutive game and tied Buffalo for the leader in assists with two. Hedderson led the team in scoring with game high of 18, her most crucial points came early in the second half.
Buffalo trailed 34-31 with over 11 minutes remaining when the momentum of the game would swing indefinitely in its favor. Ohio played ball denial defense on Hedderson, attempting to keep her from getting the ball where she preferred. She eventually caught her defender zealously overplaying the passing lane and cut to the rim and Baccas hit her in stride on the backdoor cut and Hedderson finished strong at the rim while being fouled on the shot, completing an and-one play. That play is something that Buffalo has been working on.
"I feel like that happens a lot and we really don't take advantage of it as much as we could," Hedderson said. "I really noticed that she was denying me the passing lane. [Baccas] was doing a great job finding the open gap. It was perfect passes too. It's really the connection that we have all been working on together and we're clicking just in time."
On the next possession, Baccas and Hedderson hooked up again with duplicate results. Hedderson beat her defender and scored despite being fouled. It was a 6-2 run that gave Buffalo a one-point lead that it never relinquished despite several pushes by Ohio.
Ohio was able to keep pace with the Bulls because of its work on the offensive glass; the Bobcats grabbed 17 offensive rebounds leading to 15 second chance points. The Bobcats did well against Buffalo's half-court offense, but their fouling and turnovers that led to their undoing.
Semalulu terrorized the Bobcats the entire game. She had 15 points – one shy of her career high – six rebounds, and five steals. None more impressive than her theft of Ohio sophomore guard Shavon Robinson. Semalulu deftly stripped Robinson of the ball near midcourt and sprinted toward the basket. On her layup attempt she was fouled in mid-flight. She absorbed the contact, made the adjustment, and finished the and-one scoring play.
What made her inspiring effort even more impressive was the fact she was nowhere near 100 percent after suffering a severe ankle injury in Tuesday's win over Kent State. She left the arena on crutches that day but said that there was no way she was missing Saturday's contest.
"I knew I was going to play," Semalulu said. "Unless it was broken, that was the only thing that was going to stop me".
The Bulls have won consecutive games for the third time this season and will travel to Akron on Feb. 28 for their last regular season game. The game is scheduled to tipoff at 7 p.m.
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