Free throws.
It's the only time in the game defense cannot be played. It's just the person the ball and the hoop, no worries of getting blocked or thinking to pass, just a free shot. This is not as easy as the past two sentences would have one believe.
Poor free throw shooting buried the Buffalo Bulls and proved to be the difference in a game that Buffalo out-shot and out-rebounded its opposition.
Wednesday night Buffalo (8-16, 3-9 Mid American Conference) fell 71-68 to the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (11-13, 5-6 MAC). Buffalo connected on just 5 of 18 free throws, compared to Miami's 17-19.
"We outplayed our opponent but we shot very badly from the free throw line," said head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald. "There's just no excuse."
Despite taking a 65-60 lead late in the second half, the Bulls were unable to prevent the RedHawks from making one last run. Miami made a 9-0 run, leaving the Bulls down four with just over two minutes left.
Freshman forward Kourtney Brown brought the Bulls to within one as she added a hoop and a foul shot to make the game 69-68. Miami's Jenna Schone would add two free throws with 19 seconds remaining, putting the RedHawks up three.
After a near turnover, the Bulls worked the ball around until junior guard Stephanie Bennett put up a three-point attempt that fell just short with three seconds remaining. Brown came up with the offensive rebound, though she would never get another shot away.
Sophomore guard Rachelle Matthys led the Bulls with 18 points, including four of six from three point range, to go along with a career-high nine rebounds. Brown finished with 16 points on seven of eight shooting from the field. However, she could only sink two of nine free throw attempts on the night.
"We have some players who are afraid to miss, and when you're afraid to miss, you are going to miss," Hill-MacDonald said.
Junior forward Heather Turner enjoyed an accomplished week. Turner became the 16th Bull to score over 1,000 career points, finishing with 11 points to go with 11 rebounds. In addition, this past Monday Turner was named Mid-American Conference East Player of the Week
Throughout the first half, Buffalo maintained a steady lead after a 10-0 stretch, to give the Bulls a 17-9 lead with 9:32 remaining before halftime. The lead would reach to as a many as 10 before the half ended with Buffalo leading 37-29.
The RedHawks came out hot in the second half, taking the lead back from Buffalo with an impressive 20-5 run that left the RedHawks leading 49-42 with 12 minutes to play. Buffalo would slowly regained momentum and the lead, as they outscored Miami 23-11 over a span of 8:16 to put them up 65-60, only to see the momentum abruptly halted.
Coming into the game Buffalo held the distinction of being last in the MAC in terms of free throw shooting, connecting on only 61 percent this season. That number will worsen following just 28 percent shooting Wednesday night.
In addition to shooting 46 percent from the field, the Bulls also out rebounded Miami 48-37, including snatching14 offensive rebounds.
Despite 17 assists on the night, the Bulls squandered just as many opportunities committing an equal number of turnovers.
Junior guard Stephanie Bennett finished with six assists along with eight points and freshman guard Ashley Zuber added five assists along with five rebounds.
"Ashley opens up a lot of things for our shooters," Hill-MacDonald said. "She allows Stephanie to play at the two more."
Amanda Jackson led the RedHawks with 26 points including making 8-9 from the free throw line. Forward Jaclyn Leininger added 11 points and 10 rebounds and guard Ashley Hawkins chipped in with 17 points.
Coming into Wednesday's game Buffalo had won back-to-back games against Western and Central Michigan.
This coming week the Bulls will look to utilize their home court advantage with back-to-back home games. Saturday night the Bulls will square off against the Bowling Green Falcons and next Wednesday night they will host the Ohio Bobcats.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
