Preventing Number 12

For a team struggling to garner any momentum heading towards the postseason, a matchup against a team you have not beaten in 11 tries is probably not something you are not looking forward to.

Especially when you're without one of your top players.

Nonetheless, the Buffalo Bulls women's basketball team will try to overcome the Kent State Golden Flashes tonight in Alumni Arena.

Despite having lost to Kent State eleven times in a row, including their two matchups last season, Buffalo is ready to go head-to-head once again with the Flashes, hoping to get their season back on track.

With the Bulls record standing at 5-14 (3-6 Mid-American Conference), and Kent State's record 12-8 (5-4 MAC), the game could be the straw that breaks the Bulls' back.

"I just think that it's going to be a tough game for us because were going to be without Jessica Kochendorfer, because she has a concussion," said Buffalo head coach Cheryl Dozier. "Were going to be limited to seven kids. Anytime you have those numbers, it's going to be tough being able to do a balancing act. It's going to be a tough game for us."

The last time UB met Kent State, it was in the final game of the 2002-03 season with the rights to the MAC East still up in the air before the end of that night's slate of MAC games.

Buffalo played valiantly before a booming crowd in Alumni Arena, but fell 78-72 to the Flashes.

The Bulls may need that game to help motivate themselves to beat KSU this time around, but are without three main cogs from that encounter. Kochendorfer (injured), Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe (graduated) and Hollie Cook (suspended indefinitely) were all a major part of that game last year.

Dozier gave her kids some time off this weekend, because they've had a rough season.

"I think our kids will be up for the challenge knowing that we've never beat them," said Dozier. "Kent State has always been a great rivalry."

Dozier knows what her team needs to do, in order to come over the top against Kent State. If defense is their greatest concern, the Bulls will do their best to defend their zones.

One player they should keep an eye on is Lindsay Shearer who has averaged 16 points, six rebounds and two assists per game over the last two games. She also shot 50 percent from the field and 91 percent from the charity stripe.

"When we put our minds to playing defense, we can play with anybody in the conference," said Dozier.

The game starts at 7 p.m. tonight in Alumni Arena.