Heather Turner

BUFFALO, NY - The visiting Western Michigan Broncos erased a four-point halftime deficit with a 7-0 run to start the second half, and they embarked on a 15-3 run with under eight minutes to play to put the game away, finally earning a 70-58 win over the University at Buffalo women's basketball team tonight in front of 1,115 fans in Alumni Arena. The Broncos were led by Carrie Moore with a game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds, while freshman Heather Turner (West Seneca, NY/Mount Mercy Academy) led the Bulls' charge with 20 points and a game-high 13 boards.

There were eight lead changes in a back-and-forth first half that saw the Bulls pull away with an 11-2 run in the final 3:19 to go to the lockerroom with a 36-32 lead at the break. The Bulls shot 48.5 percent from the floor (16-for-33) in the first 20 minutes of the game, while Western Michigan shot 45.8 percent (11-for-24) with four three-pointers.

The Broncos (8-14 overall, 5-6 Mid-American Conference) quickly took the lead back in the second half, opening with a layup by Moore and a three-pointer by Kim Driggett to go up 37-36 with 18:17 remaining in the game. The lead changed six more times over the next five minutes before the Broncos took it for good, 46-44, on another three-pointer by Driggett at the 13:12 mark. The Bulls were within two, 53-51, with 8:17 to play when Western Michigan embarked on the 15-3 run to take its biggest lead of the game, 68-54, with 41 seconds remaining. A three-point play by Kelly Koerber keyed the run, and Moore scored six of the 15 points, including four from the free throw line.

The Bulls shot just 30.3 percent from the floor in the second half (10-for-33) and 39.4 percent in the game (26-for-66). Buffalo missed 10 of its 15 free throw attempts in the game, including all seven in the second half.

Turner's double-double is her second in as many games and her fifth of the season. Junior Brooke Meunier (Saginaw, MI/Heritage) added 17 points, five rebounds and three steals, and sophomore Belinda Gibb (Denmark, Western Australia/Willetton) also reached double digits in scoring with 12 points. Freshman Stephanie Bennett (Springfield, OH/Kenton Ridge) added seven points, four assists and six steals.

Western Michigan finished the game shooting 50.0 percent from the floor (24-for-48), including 63.6 percent from three-point range (7-for-11). Driggett fell just shy of a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds, and Koerber added 15 points and five boards. Moore and Kate Verseput each recorded eight assists in the game.

"This loss is very disappointing, especially because we had a chance to put together back-to-back wins for the first time this season at home," said UB head coach Cheryl Dozier. "We got our inside game going tonight, and Heather was again a bright spot. She continues to give us everything she has night in and night out. But, I think we let the last seven minutes of the game get away from us. We just lost focus, and we're learning the hard way that you can't afford to do that in this league for even a minute."

The Bulls (4-16 overall, 2-7 MAC) now hit the road for a two-game road-trip, beginning at Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, February 9 at 7 pm.