BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's basketball team dropped its second straight Mid-American Conference game and its fourth game of the season, 82-70 at Ohio University, despite getting a team-high 15 points from freshman Jessica Kochendorfer (Allen, MI/Quincy) and a career-high 13 points from freshman Virginia Jennings (Nashville, MI/Hastings). The Bobcats (4-11, 1-3 MAC) outscored the Bulls by a 26-3 margin at the foul line, and they shot 58% from the floor for the game. Buffalo's record now stands at 11-4 overall and 2-2 in the conference.

The Bobcats got out to an early 9-2 lead in the first three minutes of the game, but the Bulls battled back to tie the score at 17-17 with 7:55 remaining in the half on a jumper by sophomore Rachel Martin (Kenmore, NY/Kenmore West), and a three-pointer by Jennings at the buzzard gave Buffalo a 32-30 lead at halftime. The Bulls began the second half of play with four consecutive three-pointers, one by Jennings, one by Kochendorfer and two by senior Tara Perrier (Aurora, Ontario/Aurora), and they led by as many as seven points, 50-43 with 11:41 showing on the clock. Two free throws by OU's Candace Bates cut Buffalo's lead to five, 50-45, and Ronita Whitfield then scored the Bobcats' next 11 straight points to put them back on top, 56-52 with 8:04 left in the game. The Bobcats scored on their next nine shots during a span of four minutes and 20 seconds to increase their lead, and they hit 10-of-10 free throws in the final three minutes of the game to secure the victory. The game was Buffalo's first loss this season after leading at halftime.

"We got exactly what we deserved today," said UB head coach Cheryl Dozier. "We shot the ball well but we didn't defend, and that's disappointing because the trademark of our program is our defense. She (Ohio head coach Lynn Bria) had her team ready to go, and they wanted it more than we did. This is a great win for them."

Kochendorfer was 7-of-8 from the floor, and she scored in double figures for the second straight game. Jennings and Perrier both hit three three-pointers, and Perrier finished with 11 points on the afternoon. Senior Mari McClure (Rochester Hills, MI/Rochester Adams) added 12 points while also grabbing four rebounds and dishing five assists, and Martin contributed nine points, three rebounds and a career-high three steals off the bench. Senior Tiffany Bell (Alexandria, VA/Hayfield) broke her streak of 27 straight games scoring in double figures, finishing with six points on the afternoon.

Buffalo senior Sonia Ortega (Chihuahua, Mexico/Cobach) was ejected from the game with 35 seconds remaining after committing a flagrant, intentional deadball foul. She will have to sit out Buffalo's next contest.

The Bulls have the week off before traveling to Eastern Michigan for a 4:30 pm game on Saturday, January 20. The game will be broadcast live on WWKB-AM 1520.