Bulls Advance To First MAC Semifinal With 66-54 Win Over Kent State

Bulls shoot 20-of-25 from free throw line in second half

Jessica Fortman

CLEVELAND, OH – The University at Buffalo women’s basketball team has advanced to the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament for the first time in school history with a 66-54 victory over Kent State on Friday afternoon at the Quicken Loans Arena. The Bulls outscored the Golden Flashes 41-28 in the second half and will now face Ball State on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 pm.

After a first half where Kent State led by as many as eight points seven minutes into the game, the Bulls managed to end the half on a 7-2 run as they trailed by just one at the half. Included in that run was a jumper from senior Dortae Freeman with seven seconds left in the half.

Dortae Freeman

The Bulls took their first lead of the game just 53 seconds into the second half on a jumper from Jamie Schiebner. After the Golden Flashes retook a one-point lead, a jumper by Kourtney Brown put the Bulls ahead for good with 18:21 left. Brown’s basket began a 20-8 run for the Bulls where they took an 11-point lead on a jumper from Brown with 10:03 left in the half. The Golden Flashes fought back to get it within four, but the Bulls used clutch free throw shooting in the second half to remain in the lead. The Bulls went 20-of-25 from the free line in the second half, including 16-of-19 combined from Jessica Fortman and Freeman. At one point in the second half, Fortman converted on six straight free throws and then immediately following that, Freeman scored eight of the next nine points.

“I am extremely proud of our team today,” said head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald. “We made a few defensive adjustments from the last time we played Kent State and I couldn’t have asked for any more out of our players.”

The Bulls were led by a season-high 20 points from Fortman, who went 11-for-13 from the line. The 11 free throws are a career high. Fortman also added eight rebounds, two assists, one block and a steal. Brown added 16 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and a career-high five steals. Through two games, Brown now has 11 blocked shots in the MAC Tournament, which is second all-time for blocks by a player in tournament history. Freeman added a career-high 13 points, with four rebounds, an assist and two steals. Freeman went a career-best seven of eight from the free throw line.

Kourtney Brown

Junior Dayna Smith recorded a career-high four assists, while freshman Beth Christensen again gave the Bulls solid minutes off the bench with three points, six rebounds and two blocked shots. As a team, the Bulls had nine blocked shots, which tied for third in MAC Tournament history. UB’s 16 blocks so far in the MAC Tournament are second all time.

The Golden Flashes were led by 11 points from Jena Stutzman and 10 points and nine rebounds from Anna Kowalska.

The Bulls will now meet the West Division Champion Ball State on Saturday afternoon in the semifinals. Tip off is set for 2:30 pm and the game will air live on Fox Sports Ohio.