Bulls Zip Past Akron

Buffalo improves to 5-1 on the road
AKRON, OH - The University at Buffalo women's basketball team evened its conference record with a 68-63 victory over Akron, Wednesday night at Rhodes Arena. The Bulls improved their record to 7-8 on the season, 2-2 in MAC play, and won back-to-back conference road games for the first time since the 2002-03 season.

Brooke Meunier

For the second straight game UB finished with four players in double figures, led by 20 from senior Brooke Meunier (Saginaw, MI/Heritage). Sophomore Stephanie Bennett (Springfield, OH/Kenton Ridge) added 17 points for the Bulls all after the break as she went 5-of-10 from behind the arc.

After heading to the locker rooms up five, the Bulls went on a 17-7 run during the first seven minutes of the second half to take a 15-point lead, their largest of the game. Bennett hit three of her treys during that period and Meunier added one as well.

The Zips began to crawl back into the game as Meunier and Heather Turner (West Seneca, NY/Mount Mercy Academy) both got into foul trouble. The Zips used a 9-0 run to get within three at the six-minute mark and the game stayed within a five-point margin for the remainder of the contest.

"We let the ball get to their best player more than we would have liked," head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald said. "We didn't do the little things and it almost cost us tonight. Luckily for us we got some good minutes from our bench and shot the ball a little better in the second half."

Jamie Schiebner

Freshman Jamie Schiebner (Saginaw, MI/Heritage) and Turner also finished in double figures at 15 and 10 points, respectively. The 15 points are a career high for Schiebner. Turner finished with a team-high eight rebounds.

One thing the Bulls did tonight was win the turnover battle as they only turned it over 11 times, opposed to 17 for Akron.

With the victory the Bulls have taken five of six road games, their most victories away from Alumni Arena since the 2002-03 season when they won six on the road.

The Zips (3-12, 0-4 MAC) were led by two players in double figures. Freshman Niki McCoy notched a double-double with game highs in points (25) and rebounds (12). 20 of McCoy's points came after the intermission. Jessie Crooks chipped in 13 points for Akron.

The Bulls will remain in Ohio as they travel to Kent State on Saturday, Jan. 21 for a matchup with the Golden Flashes. Tip off is set for 2 p.m.

01/18/2006