Bulls Fall Just Short At Ohio, 80-77

Rachelle Matthys has a game high 25 points, hitting seven three pointers

Rachelle Matthys

ATHENS, OH – The host Ohio Bobcats used a 27-6 run over the end of the first half and into the second half and fought off a pesky Buffalo squad as the Bulls fell, 80-77, Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center. During the game, the Bulls set a new school record for three-point field goals attempted with 31.

Both teams got off to a quick start to the game as each team took its share leading over the first 10 minutes of the game. The Bulls took their biggest lead of the game at five on a three by Jamie Schiebner with 9:19 left in the opening half. The two teams were tied up at 30 when the Bobcats went on a quick 9-0 run. The Bulls answered with a three to cut it to six, but four straight Ohio points gave the Bobcats a 10-point lead. Kourtney Brown would send the Bulls into the half down eight as she hit a bucket as time expired in the opening half.

Brittany Hedderson

The Bobcats then began the second half on a 14-1 run over the first five minutes of the second half to take their largest lead of the game at 21. The Bulls then used a 12-6 run to get within 13 on a three from Rachelle Matthys. The Bulls continued to fight and got within single digits as Matthys drained another long triple with 5:17 left to put the Bulls down just 70-61. That was part of an 11-0 UB run that got the Bulls within five on a layup from Bridgette Kendricks with 3:40 left. Ohio regained an eight-point lead, but the Bulls weren’t done trying to come back as a three by Brittany Hedderson put UB within five with 20 seconds left. After a free throw make by Ohio, Matthys drained her seventh three of the game to put UB within three with five seconds left. Following two made Ohio free throws, the Bulls had one last possession, converting on a Hedderson jumper as the Bulls fell by just three.

Kourtney Brown

UB was led by a game-high 25 points from Matthys, who converted on seven threes, which is third in school history for threes in a game. Earlier this season, Matthys claimed the second spot in school history when she had eight threes against North Carolina A&T. She also added a couple rebounds, an assist and a block. Brown added 15 points, six rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal. Also scoring in double figures was Schiebner, who was playing in her 100th career game as a Bull. Schiebner had 12 points and four assists. Hedderson added nine points and a team-high seven assists.

The Bulls had five different players attempt threes as they set a new school record for threes attempted in a game with 31. The old record was 29, which occurred at Northern Illinois during the 2005-06 season. The 12 threes made by the Bulls were their most this season and just two off of the school record of 14.

Ohio was led by four players in double figures, including 20 points and six rebounds from Lauren Hmiel. Kamille Buckner added 17 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots.

The Bulls will return home for their final two-game home stand of the season as they host Bowling Green on Wednesday night. Tip off with the Falcons is set for 7:00 pm at Alumni Arena.