BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's basketball team overcame injuries, adversity and a huge second-half deficit to score a dramatic, 66-61, overtime victory over Eastern Michigan on Thursday night at Alumni Arena. The win snapped a three-game losing streak and improved the Bulls to 13-3 and 3-3 in the Mid-American Conference.

The Bulls - who got junior captains Tiffany Bell (Alexandria, VA/Hayfield) and Mari McClure (Rochester Hills, MI/Rochester Hills) back in the lineup despite serious ankle injuries - were trailing the Eagles (8-10 overall, 2-5 in the MAC), 49-33 with 8:36 remaining, shortly after head coach Cheryl Dozier picked up the first technical foul of her head coaching career.

Just when things looked bleak, however, the Bulls reached deep and made an incredible rally. Buffalo went on a 20-4 run to close regulation led by some torrid outside shooting by Colleen Tabor (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) and Tara Perrier (Aurora, Ontario/Aurora). Tabor scored eight of her career-high 11 points in the final 5:09 of regulation and pulled UB to within 50-48 on a three with 4:02 left. Bell, who had 19 points and 10 rebounds after missing three games with a severely sprained ankle, tied the score at 50-50 with 3:04 remaining before Tabor hit another trey with 2:22 remaining to give the Bulls their first lead since the 8:50 mark of the first half.

Eastern's Jessica Henry, who had a game-high 26 points, would force overtime by hitting a three-pointer with 1:01 remaining in regulation. Perrier, who had 10 points, would make sure UB got to overtime by blocking a layup attempt by Kristy Maska with :09 left in regulation.

However, in overtime the Bulls never trailed, overcoming the game's last tie at 59-59 on another three by Henry, as Perrier broke the tie with a driving layup before Sonia Ortega (Chihuahua, Mexico/Cobach) would hit two free throws to make it 63-59 with :50 left. Ortega had nine points, eight rebounds, a career-high 13 assists and five steals and helped clinch the game on defense when the Bulls forced Eastern's's 23rd turnover of the game with :18 left leading 64-61.

McClure's two free throws iced it for the Bulls who improved to 6-1 at Alumni Arena this season. McClure finished with 10 points and five assists and played all 45 minutes despite a sprained ankle suffered just three days ago at Western Michigan.

"We didn't play well for the first 34 minutes but I can't say enough about the toughness and determination of this team," said Dozier afterwards. "That was one of the grittiest performances I've ever seen."