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Late Rally Falls Short Against Eastern Michigan, 74-71

Stephanie Bennett

The Bulls got off to a quick start as their post players dominated the early parts of the game. UB’s first 16 points were scored by either Heather Turner (West Seneca, NY/Mount Mercy Academy) or Barbora Homolová (Ceska Lipa, Czech Republic/Strakonice), who made the start to help combat Eastern Michigan’s size down low. Turner opened the game with a three-point play and had 10 points in the first six minutes of the game. The Bulls led for much of the first 10 minutes of the game, but four quick Alyssa Pittman points put Eastern Michigan ahead. UB tied the game up at 32-32 with 1:54 left in the half, but EMU hit back-to-back threes to take a quick six-point advantage. Bennett cut that lead in half with a three, but the Eagles hit a free throw with 25 seconds left and took a four-point lead into the half.

Barbora Homolová

In the second half, Eastern Michigan got its lead up to as many as eight points with 14:32 left, but the lead was immediately cut into with a Bennett three. However, EMU seemed to answer each UB basket with points of its own, regaining a seven-point lead at the 9:54 mark. Two straight UB baskets knocked the lead down to three. Eastern Michigan regained a five-point advantage, but another Bennett triple knocked the EMU lead down to two. Pittman then had a jumper for EMU which got the lead back to four, but sophomore Ashley Zuber (Schnecksville, PA/Parkland) hit her only three of the game to put UB within one at 62-61 with 7:31 left. The game would ultimately get tied at 65-65 as Homolová hit a layup and while the ball was in the air junior Dortae Freeman (Detroit, MI/Cass Technical) got fouled. She hit both of her free throws to tie the game up. The Eagles scored the next four points before Bennett hit her seventh three of the game, cutting the lead to one with 3:53 left. EMU hit a free throw to go up two and UB had an opportunity to tie the game back up but it was unable to get a defensive rebound off a missed free throw and EMU got another opportunity as Pittman hit both free throws to take a four-point lead. Bennett got the ball and was fouled taking a three-pointer, almost converting on a four-point play. However, Bennett was able to knock down all three foul shots. UB had to foul Pittman again as she knocked down both of her free throws for a three-point lead. The Bulls got the final shot, but a Bennett triple could not fall as time expired.

Heather Turner

Bennett led the way for UB with a career-high 25 points. Her seven three-pointers are second all-time for threes in a game, tying Tara Perrier (1/8/00) and Brenna Doty (12/1/95). Bennett also pulled down four rebounds, had two assists and two steals. Turner had 15 points and six rebounds, while Homolová had 12 points, which tied a season high. Homolová also had two blocked shots. Zuber added seven points and had a game-high six assists.

EMU, which improved to 10-8 and 4-2 in the MAC, had four players in double figures. Pittman had 19 points and Canae Williams had 16 points. Amanda Compton had 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

“In a three-point game every little error matters and we had 22 turnovers today,” said head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald. “The cumulative effect of those turnovers in today’s game was devastating.”

The Bulls will now hit the road for the next two games starting this Thursday at Northern Illinois. Tip off against the Huskies will be at 8:00 pm EST.