Bulls Shoot Their Way Past Central Michigan, 90-80

Rachelle Matthys’ career high 22 points leads five players in double figures

Rachelle Matthys

MT. PLEASANT, MI – The University at Buffalo women’s basketball team wrapped up play against the MAC West with a 90-80 victory over the Central Michigan Chippewas, Saturday afternoon at Rose Arena. The 90 points scored by the Bulls were their most since a 95-89 win over North Carolina on Nov. 17, 2000. The win increases UB’s record to 8-15 on the season and 3-8 in MAC play. CMU drops to 10-14 with the loss and 2-9 in the conference.

Central Michigan put the first two points on the board as UB was called for a technical prior to the start of the game for not reporting its starters on time, The Bulls then responded by putting the first eight points after the tip off on the board to take an 8-2 lead. The UB lead grew to as much as 11 in the first half as Belinda Gibb (Denmark, Western Australia/Willeton) hit a layup with 10:35 to go in the half, giving Buffalo a 21-10 lead. The Chippewas cut into the lead and trailed by just one with 4:48 to go in the opening half. The Bulls answered that with a 13-4 run to end the half, capped off by Jamie Schiebner’s (Saginaw, MI/Heritage) put back as time expired in the half.

CMU started the second half on a 9-0 run to cut the UB lead to just one, but again the Bulls fought back as the two teams traded baskets. The game was tied four times in all, as UB never trailed after the opening free throws. The Chippewas closed in on the lead one final time, cutting the Buffalo lead to one with 8:51 remaining in the game, but the Bulls went on a 10-0 run to take a 75-65 lead. CMU would get no closer than eight as junior Stephanie Bennett (Springfield, OH/Kenton Ridge) hit her foul shots to give UB a 10-point victory.

Stephanie Bennett

“I thought the game was exceptional in the stand point of our team sharing the basketball, getting our perimeter scorers involved and getting the ball inside to our post players,” said head coach Linda Hill-MacDonlad. “We had a balanced scoring effort and our guards did a great job delivering the passes where they needed to be delivered and you can’t ask for more than to have five people, and almost six, in double figures and I thought it was just a great team effort today.”

Sophomore Rachelle Matthys (St. Clair, MI/St. Clair), playing in front of many friends and family, scored a career-high 22 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field. 16 of Matthys’ points came in the second half as she knocked down both of her triples in the second as well. Bennett finished with 20 points, marking the first time this season that UB had two 20-point scorers in one game. Bennett hit a game-high four threes, with three of those coming in the second half as well. The 20 points also tie Bennett’s career high. Bennett and Matthys weren’t the only ones accomplishing feats for the first time this season as junior Heather Turner (West Seneca, NY/Mount Mercy Academy) and Schiebner both finished with double-doubles. Turner had 15 points and 11 boards, while only playing 22 minutes due to foul trouble. Schiebner added 12 points and 10 rebounds, while freshman Kourtney Brown (Solon, OH/Solon) added 13 points, the second time she has reached double figures off the bench in as many games.

The Bulls experienced their best shooting half of the season in the first half, as they shot 63 percent from the floor (17-of-27). In the second half, UB shot 54.8 percent to finish the game with a season-high 58.6 percent from the floor. Buffalo shot an even 60 percent from behind the arc, converting on 6-of-10 from three.

Heather Turner

Even a better sign for the Bulls was their performance from the foul line, converting on 16-of-20 (80%) shots from the charity stripe. Turner hit 5-of-6 of her shots, while Gibb and Schiebner each hit their two. UB committed just 15 turnover in the game as opposed to its 21 assists, seven of those coming off the hands of Gibb. The Bulls also had a large advantage on the glass, pulling in 40 rebounds, opposed to just 28 from the Chippewas.

Central Michigan was led by three players in double figures as they got scoring from all nine players that saw action. Ann Skufca led the way with 22 points and Sharonda Hurd added 16.

The Bulls remain on the road as they head to Oxford, OH on Wednesday for a game with Miami. Tip off between the Bulls and RedHawks is set for 7:00 pm.

02/10/2007