The NCAA inserted new rules this offseason - including stronger enforcement of hand checking and defenders having two hands on offensive players in the paint - resulting in more fouls. It is an initiative aiming to increase scoring.
Buffalo's women's basketball team almost found this out the hard way on Wednesday night at Youngstown State (0-2).
Behind sophomore guard Mackenzie Loesing's team-high 22 points, the Bulls (2-0) defeated the Penguins 72-65, despite committing 29 fouls. Junior forward Christa Baccas (10) was Buffalo's second-leading scorer but played only 18 minutes, and three other Bulls (senior guard Margeaux Gupilan, junior forward Kristen Sharkey and freshman guard Camera Miley) had four fouls apiece and played limited minutes.
The referees were consistent, whistling Youngstown State 25 times for fouls.
"Everybody says it's going to be ugly before it gets great, trying to make the game a little bit more appealing," said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "But we have to go through the trenches right now and I think we will."
The teams combined for 69 free throws. The constant whistles forced Buffalo to turn to its bench as all 12 players contributed. Every Bull saw at least eight minutes of action and 10 of the 12 played at least 14 minutes. Miley, Loesing and senior guard Slone Walton were the only Bulls to play over 20 minutes.
"We are just going to have to find our way through these games because we can't have officials coming to all of our practices," Legette-Jack said.
Youngstown State jumped out to a 21-11 lead in the opening nine minutes before the Bulls pulled to within three and headed into the locker room down 32-29.
After an initial three-point goal by the Penguins to open the second half, Buffalo went on a 13-0 run over the next 3:30 to take a seven-point lead.
Buffalo outscored Youngstown State 43-33 in the second half - led by 48.3 percent shooting and a little help from the Penguins, who shot an abysmal 2 for 16 from deep in the second half.
The Bulls expanded their lead to as big as 12 with 4:41 remaining after a Miley jumper. Youngstown State responded with an 8-0 run before Miley recorded two more of her eight points.
When the Penguins brought the game close again, Loesing found Sharkey for an open layup and a seven-point lead with 44 seconds remaining to secure the victory.
Loesing led the Bulls with 22 points on 7-of-20 shooting. She added five rebounds, five steals and three assists.
Seventeen of the Bulls' 23 field goals came off assists, and the Buffalo bench combined for 32 points.
Heidi Schlegel led the Penguins with 23 points and nine rebounds. Karen Flagg filled the stat sheet with 12 points, nine rebounds and six assists, but committed a game-high 12 turnovers.
Buffalo's 'D' forced 23 turnovers, accrued 13 steals and held the Penguins to 35.8 percent shooting from the field - including 3 for 21 from behind the arc (14.3 percent).
The consecutive victories mark the first time the women's team has started a season 2-0 since the 2007-08 season and the first time the team won back-to-back road games to open a season since 1983.
The Bulls return to Alumni Arena this weekend for the first time since their two opening exhibition victories.
"I really enjoy our crowd," Legette-Jack said. "The fans are really starting to buy into the '20 sports, one team.' It's going to be exciting to come back and see our Bulls nation embrace us."
The Bulls host Cornell (1-0) on Saturday. Buffalo fell to the Big Red 70-43 at Cornell last year but then went on a three-game win streak at the start of MAC play.
The Big Red are led by Allyson DiMagno and Shelby Lyman, who combined for 36 points in their opening game. The duo started in this matchup last season and combined for 18 points.
The women's contest will serve as the first of a UB basketball doubleheader. Tip is set for 12:30 p.m. and the men's team will take the court afterward.
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Photo: Courtesy of Tal Hamel, Endvisionprod
Photo: Paul Hokanson/UB Athletics
