BUFFALO, NY - Seniors Tiffany Bell (Alexandria, VA/Hayfield) (29 points, 11 rebounds) and Sonia Ortega (Chihuahua, Mexico/Cobach) (17 points, 10 assists) both posted double-doubles to lead the University at Buffalo women's basketball team to a double-overtime victory over visiting Ohio, 86-83. The double-double was Bell's second in a row and her third in Buffalo's last four games, while Ortega has now scored in double digits in six straight outings. The win improves Buffalo's record to 18-7 overall and 9-5 in the Mid-American Conference, while Ohio falls to 8-18 overall and 5-10 in the league.

The Bobcats came back from an eight-point deficit to take a 30-29 halftime lead, but the Bulls regained the advantage thanks to 49 percent shooting from the floor in the second half, and they seemed to be in control with a nine-point lead (62-53) with less than six minutes remaining in regulation before the Bobcats embarked on a 14-5 run to end the second half. Ohio's Beckie Fischer made her first free throw and then missed her second with just over a minute remaining to tie the score at 67-67, and Buffalo freshman Jessica Kochendorfer (Allen, MI/Quincy) came up with a big steal on the Bobcats' next possession to force the first overtime period.

Both teams put 11 points on the board in the first extra session to finish in a 78-78 deadlock. With Buffalo ahead by three, 76-73, with under a minute on the clock, Ohio's Candace Bates hit a three-pointer and Buffalo's Virginia Jennings (Nashville, MI/Hastings) and the Bobcats' Cathy Szall exchanged back-to-back layups before time expired. Ortega opened the second overtime period with a jumper that Ohio's Lori Moorman matched 21 seconds later, but the Bulls then rattled off six points while limiting the Bobcats to just one free throw to take a five point lead, 86-81, with 2:29 left on the clock. Moorman hit another jumper with 1:26 remaining, but Buffalo held on for the 86-83 victory.

"We found a way to win tonight, and I'm proud of our team for that," said UB head coach Cheryl Dozier. "Tiffany had another great game, Tara (Perrier) shot well from three-point range and our senior leadership came through with all four of them finishing with double digits...We got defensive stops when we needed them, and we just found a way to win."

Bell hit a career-high 13 shots from the floor while recording her 23rd career double-double. Senior Mari McClure (Rochester Hills, MI/Rochester Adams) finished with 18 points and a career-high nine assists, and senior Tara Perrier (Aurora, Ontario/Aurora) added 11 points off the bench to lead Buffalo's attack. Ohio was led by Szall (26 points) and Moorman (21 points, nine rebounds), and Bates also contributed 10 points, six rebounds and four assists. The Bobcats tied their season-high with nine three-pointers, with Szall also tying her season-high by accounting for six of them. The loss was Ohio's second double-overtime loss in less than two weeks.

The Bulls remain home to host Bowling Green in their last regular season home game on Saturday, February 24 at 5 pm. Buffalo's four seniors will be honored prior to tip-off, and the UB men's basketball team will take on Miami (OH) following the conclusion of the women's game.