womens-basketball - The Spectrum

Former women's basketball player Mackenzie Loesing (center) stands on the court with her family, head coach Felisha Legette-Jack (right) and Athletic Director Allen Greene (left). Loesing was awarded with her jersey on Senior Day, after an ankle injury ended her career last April.

SPORTS

Former UB Bull Mackenzie Loesing honored on Senior Day after injuries end career prematurely

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Mar. 6, 2016

Even though Loesing was forced to end her career a year early due to chronic ankle injuries and was not on the roster this season, she was still honored on Senior Day Saturday prior to the start of Buffalo’s regular season finale. Loesing, alongside fellow senior guard Karin Moss, received her encased No. 35 jersey amid cheers from the crowd.

Junior guard Joanna Smith drives to the basket against Ball State on Feb. 6.

SPORTS

Legette-Jack blames officiating in UB women’s basketball’s 62-49 loss

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Mar. 3, 2016

The Bulls (15-13, 7-10 MAC) fell to Akron (16-12, 10-7 MAC) 62-49 at the James A. Rhodes Arena – which snapped a three-game winning streak. The Bulls faltered in the second half, scoring just seven points in the fourth quarter. Buffalo is still third in the MAC East and is tied for seventh place with Western Michigan (15-14, 7-10 MAC) in the overall conference standings.

Bulls head coach Felisha Legette-Jack and the bench celebrate during Buffalo's victory over Ball State in Alumni Arena on Feb. 6.

SPORTS

UB women’s basketball upsets top-seeded Ohio for second time

By Edward Goldschmid | Feb. 27, 2016

For the second time this season, the Bulls (15-12, 7-9 MAC) defeated Ohio (22-5, 14-2 MAC), this time besting the Bobcats 70-58 in Athens, Ohio on Saturday afternoon.

SPORTS

UB women’s basketball preview: Bulls look to upset MAC-leading Ohio for second time

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Feb. 27, 2016

The Bulls (14-12, 6-9 MAC) take on Ohio at the Convocation Center in Athens, Ohio Saturday hoping for a repeat of their 51-43 upset of the Bobcats on Feb. 3. After the Bulls play Ohio, it won’t get an easier. They face the second-best team in the MAC East, Akron (14-12, 8-7 MAC) on Wednesday. The Zips defeated Buffalo 69-61 in Alumni Arena on Jan. 16.

Sophomore guard Stephanie Reid looks to go to the basket in a 55-52 victory over Bowling Green on Feb. 24.

SPORTS

Last-second block helps UB women’s basketball survive against Bowling Green

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Feb. 25, 2016

The Bulls (14-12, 6-9 Mid-American Conference) defeated Bowling Green (9-15, 5-10 MAC) 55-52 on a last-second block by Oursler, a native of Grans Island. The Bulls held a special promotion Wednesday – anyone from Grand Island could purchase a ticket for $5.

Oursler looks to get a pass in the paint.

SPORTS

After sitting out year, Cassie Oursler brings UB Bulls much needed post presence

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Feb. 24, 2016

She watched on the sideline as the Bulls lost to eventual conference champions, Ohio, in the Mid-American Conference Quarterfinals in Cleveland last season. She watched at home when West Virginia defeated Buffalo in the program’s first-ever Women’s National Invitation Tournament appearance. She even had to sit out for the first 10 games of this season. And if she could have played in any of those games, there may have been a different outcome. “I think she continues to get better,” said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. “She has a major presence about herself, she just has to slow her down in her head. Once we get her to slow it down in her head, you’re going to see a 20-10 kid.”

Senior guard Jarryn Skeete looks to convert a free throw. The Bulls snapped their three-game losing streak with a 88-74 home victory over Bowling Green.

SPORTS

UB Bulls quick hits: Basketball picks up key victories, baseball winless

By Sports Desk | Feb. 21, 2016

The men’s squad went 1-1 this past week and ended its three-game losing streak after an 88-74 home victory over Bowling Green (13-14, 4-10 MAC). Earlier in the week, Buffalo lost on the road to top-seeded Akron (21-6, 10-4 MAC) 80-70 before heading back home to take the victory over the Falcons.

Junior guard Joanna Smith puts up a shot against a Miami Ohio defender in Buffalo's 58-39 victory at Alumni Arena on Feb. 20.

SPORTS

UB women’s basketball defense shuts down Miami Ohio 58-39

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Feb. 20, 2016

The Bulls (13-12, 5-9 Mid-American Conference) had a great third quarter as they scored 23 points and kept Miami Ohio’s (9-16, 3-11 MAC) offense in check with a full court press en route to a 58-39 victory at Alumni Arena Saturday afternoon. The victory moved the Bulls to third place in the MAC East, surpassing Bowling Green (9-14, 5-9 MAC).

Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack argues with a referee during Buffalo's 70-55 loss to Eastern Michigan at Alumni Arena on Wednesday.

SPORTS

UB women’s basketball loses by 15 in ‘passive’ performance

By Edward Goldschmid | Feb. 18, 2016

The Bulls (12-12, 4-9 Mid-American Conference) continued their downward slide with a 70-55 loss to Eastern Michigan (16-8, 7-6 MAC) that caused Legette-Jack to apologize to Buffalo’s fans and athletic director.

SPORTS

UB women’s basketball preview: Bulls face fellow struggling teams

By Jordan Grossman | Feb. 18, 2016

The Bulls (12-12, 4-9 MAC) gave up 70 points for the second time in three games and are slowly sinking to the bottom of the conference. After automatically advancing to Cleveland for the MAC Tournament the past two seasons, Buffalo will likely have to play a first round campus game.

Sophomore guard Stephanie Reid drives to the basket against a Ball State defender on Feb. 6.

SPORTS

Huge second quarter propels UB women’s basketball over Bowling Green

By MICHAEL AKELSON | Feb. 14, 2016

The Bulls left the Stroh Center with a 63-50 win over Bowling Green (8-13, 4-8 MAC) on Saturday afternoon. Reid had a game-high 21 points and was 4 of 7 from behind the arc on a day where junior guard Joanna Smith struggled to find her shot.

SPORTS

UB Bulls basketball preview: Men move forward without Bearden, women hope to get back on track

By Jordan Grossman and QUENTIN HAYNES | Feb. 11, 2016

Buffalo hosts Ohio (15-8, 6-5 MAC) Saturday in hopes of creating more separation between second and third place. The Bulls then look to close the gap on a red-hot Akron team (20-4, 9-2 MAC), that is winners of its last seven games, next Tuesday on the road.

Sophomore guard Stephanie Reid looks to push the pace against Ball State earlier this season. The Bulls dropped their second consecutive game in a 71-60 loss to Toledo Wednesday.

SPORTS

Second half dooms UB women’s basketball in loss to Toledo

By Edward Goldschmid | Feb. 11, 2016

On Wednesday, the Bulls (11-11, 3-8 Mid American Conference) fell to Toledo (13-9, 8-3 MAC) 71-60 at Savage Arena in Toledo, Ohio after a big second half for the Rockets erased an impressive 29-28 halftime lead for Buffalo.

SPORTS

UB basketball preview: men look to start winning streak, women look to end losing streak

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Jan. 29, 2016

Both the men and women look to starting winning streaks on the road this weekend.

OPINION

Second half success: UB men's and women’s basketball have tools, talent for conference runs

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Jan. 28, 2016

The Buffalo men’s basketball team is sitting at 11-9 overall and 4-3 in Mid-American Conference play. The women’s team is 10-8 overall, 2-5 in MAC play and in the midst of a four-game losing streak. Clearly, both teams will need to make adjustments to make it to Cleveland, come March and have any amount of success there.

Junior guard Joanna Smith drives to the basket. Smith finished with a career-high 31 points and 14 rebounds.

SPORTS

UB women’s basketball loses MAC opener to Eastern Michigan

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Jan. 3, 2016

Eastern Michigan (10-2, 1-0 MAC) defeated Buffalo 67-56 Saturday at the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The Bulls shot 32 percent from the field and went 5 of 21 from the beyond the arc. Buffalo’s two-game winning streak was snapped.

Willie Conner goes to the basket against Pittsburgh at Bradford in Buffalo's season-opening game in November. Conner had 23 points for the Bulls in their 99-79 victory over Delaware at Alumni Arena Tuesday night.

SPORTS

UB men's and women’s basketball claim victories in final non-conference matchups

By Jordan Grossman | Dec. 30, 2015

Both the men's and women’s teams ended the non-conference schedule with convincing victories Tuesday night. The men’s squad (7-6) defeated Delaware (5-6) 99-79 in Alumni Arena while the women (8-3) defeated Sacred Heart (2-9) 66-53 in Fairfield, Connecticut.

OPINION

Lack of post presence hurting UB women’s basketball

By Jordan Grossman | Dec. 9, 2015

It’s games like Sunday that make you realize this team needs major help in the post. Buffalo controlled the game in the first half, but then it allowed nearly 30 rebounds in the second half, nine on the offensive glass. Players like Baccas would have prevented a performance like that.

Freshman guard Gabi Bade brings the ball up court in Buffalo's 79-62 loss to Duquesne at Alumni Arena Sunday. Bade scored 16 points.

SPORTS

Disastrous third quarter gives UB women’s basketball second straight loss

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Dec. 6, 2015

Behind a third quarter in which it outscored Buffalo 29-10, Duquesne defeated the Bulls (6-2) 79-62 in Alumni Arena to give Buffalo its second straight loss after a 6-0 start. The Bulls allowed the Dukes to shoot 48 percent from the floor and were outrebounded 43-32.

Sophomore guard Liisa Ups goes for a layup in a 54-40 victory over Canisius in Alumni Arena on Nov. 17. The Bulls' undefeated season came to an end Thursday with a 79-36 loss to Hofstra.

SPORTS

UB women's basketball is undefeated no more

By Jordan Grossman | Dec. 4, 2015

Hofstra (6-1) defeated the Bulls (6-1) 79-36 in Hempstead, New York Thursday, which ends Buffalo’s six-game winning streak to start the season. It was Legette-Jack’s first game against her former team, which she coached from 2002 to 2006, since coming to UB in 2012.

Womens Basketball