Kim Kilpela

BUFFALO, NY - The Bulls had possession of the ball with 26 seconds remaining but were unable to get off a final shot, and as a result, fell to the visiting Kent State Golden Flashes by a 72-71 score in women's basketball action at Alumni Arena. The Bulls (9-11, 4-5 MAC) put forth one of their best offensive efforts of the season in an attempt to pick up their first ever win over the Golden Flashes in their eighth meeting. Buffalo shot 49.1 percent from the floor in the game (26-for-53) and had four players score in double figures, led by sophomore Kim Kilpela (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield) with 19 points. Kent State (11-9, 7-2) entered the game in first place in the Mid-American Conference's East Division and was led by Valerie Zona with a game-high 25 points, including seven three-pointers.

Buffalo opened the scoring with consecutive three-point baskets by junior Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe (Nelson, New Zealand/University of Hawaii) and sophomore Virginia Jennings (Nashville, MI/Hastings), and the Bulls opened up a 10-0 lead before the Golden Flashes got on the board. Zona had 18 points on six three-pointers in the first half to get Kent State back into the game, and the Bulls found themselves down by one, 40-39, at halftime following a three-pointer by freshman Erin Lawrenson (Elkland, PA/Elkland) in the closing seconds of the half.

The game remained close down to the wire in the second half with the score being tied seven times in the final 20 minutes of play and neither team leading by more than five points. Jennings found McMeeken-Ruscoe under the basket for an easy layup that put the Bulls ahead 71-69 with 2:06 to play, but the Golden Flashes answered back on the next possession with what would prove to be the game-winning bucket. Christi Shibata grabbed an offensive rebound of a missed jumper by Jamie Rubis to keep the ball in Kent State's possession, and Rubis then nailed a jumper while being fouled by sophomore Jessica Kochendorfer (Allen, MI/Quincy). Rubis converted the three-point play to put the Flashes ahead by a 72-71 score with 1:20 left on the clock. McMeeken-Ruscoe then missed a three-pointer and Rubis grabbed the defensive rebound, but Buffalo got one more chance when Shibata was called for traveling with 26 seconds to play. The Bulls were forced to use their final timeout with eight seconds remaining, and Kent State spoiled their in-bounds play to earn the victory. McMeeken-Ruscoe in-bounded the ball near halfcourt to Kochendorfer who tried to hand it off to Jennings at the top of the circle, but she was double-teamed and the ball came loose as time expired.

"We're disappointed about not getting that last shot off, but that's not what cost us the game," said head coach Cheryl Dozier. "We gave up a couple of key offensive rebounds late and there were a few other little things that we did that you can't do against a team of this caliber. But, we're a young team and we have to grow with this. I told our players not to hang their heads because they played hard all game. We got great looks at the basket and had balanced scoring, and hopefully we can keep that going."

Jessica Kochendorfer

In addition to Kilpela, Kochendorfer posted a double-double with 18 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, and McMeeken-Ruscoe (16) and Jennings (10) also finished in double figures in scoring. For Kent State, Kate Miller and Katalin Kollat added 14 and 12 points, respectively.

The Bulls' three-game homestand will conclude on Saturday, February 2 when they host Bowling Green at 7 pm at Alumni Arena.