WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

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NIAGARA FALLS, NY ­ Strong three-point shooting and 30 points from the foul line lifted the Niagara Purple Eagles to an 87-75 win over the visiting University at Buffalo women's basketball team tonight at the Gallagher Center. Seniors Jessica Kochendorfer (Allen, MI/Quincy) and Kim Kilpela (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield) combined for 53 of the Bulls' 75 points, and the Bulls outscored the Purple Eagles by a 52-47 margin in the second half, but Niagara (3-2) hit nine three-point buckets in the game and made 30-of-37 free throw attempts for the difference.

Kim Kilpela

The Bulls scored three buckets on their first three possessions in the first minute and four seconds of the game to jump out to a 6-0 lead, but the Purple Eagles then embarked on a 10-0 run to take the lead that they would never relinquish. Niagara led by as many as 19 points in the first half, and a buzzer-beating jumper by sophomore Brooke Meunier (Saginaw, MI/Heritage) sent the Bulls to the lockerroom trailing by 17, 40-23. The Purple Eagles hit 6-of-13 three-point field goal attempts in the first half, three of those by Colleen Toetz. Toetz scored 18 of her team-leading 26 points in the first half.

Niagara's biggest lead of the game, 50-30, came with 16:34 on the clock following a three-point play by Ann Mimm. The Bulls pounded the ball inside in the second half and cut Niagara's lead to seven, 71-64, following a steal by junior Allison Bennett (Springfield, OH/Kenton Ridge) and a layup by Meunier with 2:27 remaining to play. A three-pointer by Chantelle Wilson on Niagara's next possession extended the Purple Eagles' lead to double digits again, 74-64, and the Bulls were then forced to foul down the stretch. Niagara went 13-of-14 from the free throw line from that point on, including 12-of-12 in the final minute of play, to secure the victory.

"We can't keep playing games that are a tale of two halves," said Buffalo head coach Cheryl Dozier. "We can't afford to get down in the first half, especially on the road. We didn't come prepared tonight - offensively or defensively - and we missed too many point-blank looks. That just can't happen if we expect to win."

Jessica Kochendorfer

The Bulls shot 64.7 percent from the floor in the second half (22-for-34), and their 52 points are a season-high for a half and the most since a 56-point second half against North Carolina on November 17, 2000. They finished with a 50.0 shooting percentage in the game (32-for-64), while Niagara shot 42.1 percent (24-for-57).

Kilpela finished with 26 points, 21 in the second half, and she tied her career high with 15 rebounds for her second consecutive double-double. Kochendorfer finished with 27 points, 17 in the second half, and eight boards. At the 11:00 mark of the first half, Kochendorfer hit a corner jumper for her 1,000th career point, making her just the 13th player in Buffalo women's basketball history to reach the 1,000 mark for career scoring.

In addition to Toetz, the Purple Eagles got 25 points and seven assists from Eva Cunningham and 12 points and nine rebounds from Jessica Kemp.

The Bulls (1-5) have a week off before returning to the court to host Oakland on Sunday, December 21 at 1 pm in Alumni Arena.