BUFFALO, NY - Senior Tiffany Bell (Alexandria, VA/Hayfield) exploded for a game-high 36 points, including five in overtime, to send the University at Buffalo women's basketball team to a 77-74 road win at Bowling Green. The win improved the Bulls to 13-5 overall and 4-3 in the MAC, tying them with the Falcons for second place in the East Division standings.

The Bulls led by as many as 14 points in the first half, but the Falcons closed the gap with a 14-5 run to enter the lockerroom down by just five, 29-24. Two free throws by BGSU's Dana Western then tied the score at 34-34 with 17:02 remaining, but the Bulls built their lead back up to nine, 50-41, with 9:55 left on the clock. The Falcons refused to fold, however, and they kept chipping away until a three-pointer by Francine Miller with 10 seconds showing on the clock tied the score at 65-65, forcing the overtime period. Bowling Green opened overtime with another three-pointer, this time by Kim Griech, to take its first lead of the game, 68-65. Free throws by Bell and senior Mari McClure (Rochester Hills, MI/Rochester Adams) followed by a jumper by Bell put the Bulls back on top, 69-68 with 1:33 on the clock, and BGSU's Western and Buffalo's McClure then exchanged buckets to put the Bulls ahead 71-70 with 54 seconds remaining. On the Falcons' next possession, UB senior Sonia Ortega (Chihuahua, Mexico/Cobach) stole the BGSU inbounds pass and fed freshman Virginia Jennings (Nashville, MI/Hastings) for an easy layup that put the game away for UB. Clutch free throw shooting in the final seconds of the game by Bell and McClure sealed the win, and a jumper by BGSU's Jackie Adlington with three seconds left in the game resulted in the 77-74 final.

"Tiffany did the things we needed her to do, and Soni came up with a big play when we needed it the most," said UB head coach Cheryl Dozier. "This was a huge win because we're now tied with Bowling Green at 4-3 in the conference. More importantly, being on a 2-0 roll helps us mentally prepare for Northern Illinois on Wednesday, who just recently beat Bowling Green...Any time you win on the road in this league, it's a big win."

Bell was 12-of-19 from the floor and 12-of-13 from the free throw line, and her 36 points were one away from tying her career high. McClure finished with 17 points and seven rebounds, and freshman Jessica Kochendorfer (Allen, MI/Quincy) added 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Ortega finished with a game-high seven assists, four points, five rebounds, two blocks and one steal.

The Bulls have now won two straight after dropping three consecutive conference matches. They host Northern Illinois on Wednesday, January 31 at 7 p.m. at Alumni Arena.