Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe

AKRON, OH - Sophomore Jessica Kochendorfer (Allen, MI/Quincy) (17 points, 11 rebounds) posted her second double-double of the season and junior Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe (Nelson, New Zealand/University of Hawaii) scored a game-high 20 points to lead the University at Buffalo women's basketball team to an easy 73-47 win at Akron. The Bulls shot 42.9 percent from the floor in the game (21-for-49), and they held the Zips to just 14 points in the first half to even their Mid-American Conference record at 1-1 and improve their overall record to 6-7.

The Zips (1-12, 0-2 MAC) opened the scoring with a jumper at the 19:09 mark, but it wasn't long before the Bulls shut them down with one of their best defensive efforts of the season. Buffalo held Akron scoreless for over five minutes and outscored the Zips by a 23-2 margin to take a 35-9 lead with under a minute to play in the first half. Five late free throws by the Zips sent the Bulls to the lockerroom with a 35-14 lead, with the 14 points being the fewest the Bulls have allowed in a half this season. Buffalo's lead never went below 20 points in the second half, and the 26-point win is the Bulls' largest margin of victory this year.

"I was very pleased with our defensive effort today," said head coach Cheryl Dozier. "I thought we did a good job of denying the ball and forcing turnovers. And on top of that, we had three players in double figures, so it was nice to get that offensive production as well. I thought Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe and Jessica Kochendorfer played very strong games for us, and Erin Lawrenson gave us quality minutes off the bench."

Erin Lawrenson

Freshman Erin Lawrenson (Elkland, PA/Elkland Area) turned in a solid performance off the bench for the Bulls with a career-high 15 points, including three three-pointers, as well as four rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal. Kochendorfer's 11 rebounds tied her career high, and sophomore Virginia Jennings (Nashville, MI/Hastings) finished with seven points, three rebounds, four assists and one steal. Senior Jana Richtrova (Benesov U Prahy, Czech Republic/Genesee Community College) tied her career high with five rebounds to go along with a career high five assists. The Bulls shot 40.0 percent from three-point range (6-for-15) and 83.3 percent from the free throw line (25-for-30). They outrebounded the Zips by a 41-39 margin.

The Bulls (6-7 overall, 1-1 MAC) host Central Michigan on Tuesday, January 8 at 7 pm before taking to the road again for a 1 pm contest at Bowling Green on Saturday, January 12.