Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe

BUFFALO, NY - The visiting Northern Illinois Huskies shot 52.6 percent from three-point range (10-for-19) and got a game-high 26 points from junior Lindsay Secrest en route to a 76-64 win over the University at Buffalo in front of 771 fans at Alumni Arena. The Bulls committed 26 costly turnovers in the game, and the loss drops their record to 11-9 overall and 3-6 in the Mid-American Conference. The Bulls were led by senior Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe (Nelson, New Zealand/Hawaii), who had her fourth 20+ scoring performance of the year with 21 points, while the Huskies (10-11, 6-4 MAC) had four players finish in double digits in scoring.

The Bulls opened the scoring on a jumper by junior Jessica Kochendorfer (Allen, MI/Quincy), and led 6-3 early on, but the Huskies broke things open with a 17-0 run to take a 20-6 lead with 9:48 left in the half. NIU freshman Joi Scott had eight of her 14 points during that run, and junior Stephanie Smith came off the bench to score seven of her 13 points in the final six minutes and 15 seconds of the half, helping the Huskies take a 38-25 lead into the lockerroom.

Buffalo began the second half by hitting seven of its first nine shots, but the Huskies hit three three-pointers in the opening eight minutes of the half to maintain their double-digit lead. After a three-pointer by Smith made the score 53-38 at the 12:49 mark, the Bulls threatened thanks to an 11-2 run that got them within six, 55-49, with 7:24 on the clock. Sophomore Allison Bennett (Springfield, OH/Kenton Ridge) and junior Kim Kilpela (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield) each hit back-to-back buckets and a three-pointer by McMeeken-Ruscoe capped the run, but Northern Illinois kept control of the game with solid shooting, getting three three-pointers from Secrest down the stretch every time the Bulls seemed to make some headway. Secrest finished with six of NIU's 10 threes in the game, including four in the second half. Her 26 points tied her career high.

"We've had two straight games now where teams have hurt us from three-point range," said UB head coach Cheryl Dozier. "We knew they had good three-point shooters and I thought we left them a little too wide open at times. We've got to take care of the basketball too; we're not a bad team when we do. We shot over 50 percent, but we just don't give ourselves as many offensive opportunities as we allow our opponents."

In addition to McMeeken-Ruscoe, Kochendorfer and Kilpela also finished in double digits for the Bulls with 13 points apiece. Kilpela also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, while freshman Hollie Cook (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) finished the night with a game-high nine assists. The Bulls shot 51.9 percent from the floor (27-for-52), including 59.3 percent in the second half (16-for-27).

The Bulls shut down NIU's leading scorer, Jennifer Youngblood, who did not score in the game but did grab a game-high nine rebounds. Senior Kristan Knake (15 points) was the fourth player to post double figures for the Huskies, along with Secrest, Scott and Smith. The Huskies shot 54.0 percent from the floor in the game (27-for-50), including 57.1 percent in the first half (16-for-28).

The Bulls next host Bowling Green on Wednesday, February 12 at 7 pm in Alumni Arena.