BUFFALO, NY - The UB women's basketball team opened their 1999-2000 season with a loss to Niagara University, 66-61, in the opening round game of the Western New York Classic held at Canisius College.

UB led by two going into the second half and pushed the lead up to four points, 31-27 in the first few minutes before Niagara came back. The Purple Eagles used a 10-0 run to regain the lead. That run was keyed by two three pointers, one from Sheryl Klick and one from Meaghan Coleman, to give Niagara a 37-33 lead. The Bulls would charge back and tie the game at 41-41 on a layup basket from freshman Kim Kipela (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield). Niagara would take back the lead and go up by three points but a jumper by UB's Mari McClure (Rochester Hills, MI/Rochester Adams) would cut it to one point, 46-45, but that was as close as the Bulls would get. Late free throws by the Purple Eagles would seal the win.

In the first half, UB had to come from behind early in the game. The Bulls scored the first goal of the game on a jumper by Tiffany Bell (Alexandria, VA/Hayfield), but Niagara would respond with a 16-2 run. Trailing by 12, 20-8, with 10:22 left in the half, the Bulls began a comeback. Bell hit a baseline jumper to cut into the lead and ignite a 14-1 spurt for UB and took the lead at 22-21 on yet another bucket from Bell. Niagara would regain the lead and go up by five points, 27-22, before UB closed the half with a 7-0 run, capped by a buzzer beating shot by Tara Perrier (Aurora, Ontario) to give the Bulls a 29-27 halftime lead.

Tiffany Bell led all scorers in the game with 24 points and had a game-high eight rebounds. Freshman Kim Kipela also added eight rebounds in her first collegiate game. Amy Getman let the Purple Eagles with 22 points and Sheryl Klick added 12. Sonia Ortega (Chiahuahua, Mexico) added 11 points and a game-high five assists for the Bulls.