WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

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Jessica Kochendorfer

BUFFALO, NY ­ The University at Buffalo women's basketball team used a balanced scoring attack and got clutch buckets down the stretch to hold on for a 68-64 win over the visiting Niagara Purple Eagles this afternoon in Alumni Arena. The Bulls (4-1 overall) had three players finish in double figures in scoring, led by junior Jessica Kochendorfer (Allen, MI/Quincy) who posted her second straight double-double of the year with 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Kochendorfer's final two points of the game came from the foul line with six seconds remaining to give the Bulls a four-point lead.

After the Bulls jumped out to a nine-point lead, 15-6, six minutes into the game, the Purple Eagles (5-2 overall) mounted a comeback behind the efforts of Jessica Kemp and Eva Cunningham. Cunningham dished eight of her nine assists and Kemp scored 14 of her 15 points in the first half of play, including back-to-back three-pointers that tied the score at 32-32 with 2:28 on the clock. The Bulls shot 60 percent (18-for-30) and Niagara shot 48.5 percent (16-for-33) from the floor in the first half, and the teams went to the lockerroom with the score tied at 38-38.

A free throw by Niagara's Kathy Meder at the 18:58 mark of the second half gave the Purple Eagles their first lead of the game, 39-38, but the Bulls remained calm and pulled out the win though the game remained close down to the wire. After the Purple Eagles took a two-point lead, 52-50, with 6:21 left to play, the Bulls went on an 8-0 run, highlighted by a three-pointer by sophomore Erin Lawrenson (Elkland, PA/Elkland Area) and a fast-break layup by senior Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe (Nelson, New Zealand/Hawaii) off a half-court pass from freshman Hollie Cook (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads). The Purple Eagles got within two, 66-64, with 43 seconds on the clock thanks to back-to-back buckets by Cunningham, but Kochendorfer put the game away for the Bulls when she hit her final two free throws of the game with six seconds left after being fouled by Niagara's Ann Mimm while grabbing a defensive rebound. The Bulls made 8-of-9 free throws in the final four minutes of the game to secure the win.

"This was a good win for us," said head coach Cheryl Dozier. "Niagara has been playing really well and we knew they were going to play hard and with a lot of intensity. We had balanced scoring again and nine players who saw significant minutes for us, and I think that depth helped us down the stretch. We've played in a lot of tight games so far this year, and these kids really believe in each other and stay calm and know they can get the job done."

The Bulls shot 50.9 percent from the floor in the game (27-for-53), and McMeeken-Ruscoe and senior Rachel Martin (Kenmore, NY/Kenmore West) also finished in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Junior Kim Kilpela (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield) added eight points and seven rebounds and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the foul line down the stretch, and sophomore Allison Bennett (Springfield, OH/Kenton Ridge) and freshman Brooke Meunier (Saginaw, MI/Heritage) each contributed seven points apiece. For Niagara, Cunningham scored a game-high 24 points and added nine assists and five steals, and Kemp finished with 15 points, three assists and three steals.

The Bulls are on the road for their next two contests, at Youngstown State on Wednesday, December 18 at 7 pm and at Mount St. Mary's on Saturday, December 21 at 3 pm. Their next home game is on Monday, December 30 at 7 pm against Oakland.