Season Ends With Tournament Loss To Toledo

Heather Turner and Flynn Pyykkonen each record double-doubles
BUFFALO, NY - The first season of the Linda Hill-MacDonald era came to an end Saturday afternoon as the University at Buffalo women's basketball team fell to Toledo, 70-58, at Alumni Arena. The Bulls will take into the offseason their best record since 2002-03 and 10, which equals their win total from the previous two years. The Rockets move on to the MAC Quarterfinals where they will meet Western Michigan.

In the first half, UB had a hard time stopping Savannah Werener, who scored 25 of her game-high 31 points in the opening 20 minutes of play. Toledo went on a 13-0 run in the first half, taking a 37-24 lead into the lockerrooms.

UB came out firing in the second half, going on an 18-5 run and tying the game up at 42 on a three-pointer from senior Brooke Meunier (Saginaw, MI/Heritage). In fact, at the 7:34 mark of the second half, on a three-pointer by Stephanie Bennett (Springfield, OH/Kenton Ridge) the Bulls took a one-point lead, but that was short lived as Toledo went back on top scoring seven of the next nine points in the game. The Bulls weren't able to capitalize on some opportunities and Toledo hit its foul shots at the end to leave with the victory.

Heather Turner

"We are certainly disappointed the season ended today," said Hill-MacDonald. "Toledo was able to execute its game plan in the first half, which was stop Heather Turner (West Seneca, NY/Mount Mercy Academy) and we weren't able to stop to Werner from going over her left shoulder."

The Bulls were led by three players in double figures, including 16 points from Meunier, who played her final game in a Buffalo uniform. Flynn Pyykkonen (Clarkston, MI/Birmingham Marian) notched her first career double-double with 15 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Turner also recorded a double-double, her third straight, recording 14 points and 11 rebounds. Eight of Turner's boards were off the offensive glass. Bennett finished with a game-high seven assists.

Flynn Pyykkonen

The Rockets were led by the 31 from Werener and 16 points from Danielle Bishop. Bishop and Werner went a combined 16-of-19 from the charity stripe. Diana Reindel recorded a team-high nine rebounds off the bench.

The Bulls end their season with a 10-18 mark and will have all but one player returning for them next season.

03/04/2006