WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

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Virginia Jennings

NEW ORLEANS, LA ­ A driving layup by sophomore Virginia Jennings (Nashville, MI/Hastings) with five seconds left on the clock gave the University at Buffalo women's basketball team a 62-60 come-from-behind win over Long Island University in the consolation game of the Tulane/Doubletree Classic in New Orleans, LA. The Bulls bounced back from a 76-29 loss to the host Green Wave last night and overcame a seven-point deficit with 8:54 remaining in the game before holding on for the victory in the closing seconds of regulation. Buffalo shot 41.4 percent from the floor in the game (24-for-58) and grabbed 15 offensive rebounds.

A late layup by the Blackbirds (4-6) tied the score at 34-34 after an evenly-played first half during which there were eight lead changes. LIU grabbed some momentum in the beginning of the second half, and a three-pointer by Kim Mac Millan with 8:54 on the clock gave the Blackbirds their second seven-point lead of the half. The three-pointer set an NCAA record for Mac Millan, who has now made a three-point shot in 54 straight games, and put the Blackbirds ahead by a 50-43 score. The Bulls then embarked on a 15-0 run to take an eight-point lead, 58-50, while holding LIU scoreless for six minutes and 29 seconds. Sophomore Kim Kilpela (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield) scored eight of her season-high 14 points during that run to put the Bulls in control of the game. The Blackbirds kept fighting, however, and two three-pointers and a two-point jumper tied the score at 58-58 with 1:16 showing on the clock. Sophomore Jessica Kochendorfer (Allen, MI/Quincy) gave the Bulls a 60-58 lead with a fast break layup off a pass from junior Rachel Martin (Kenmore, NY/Kenmore West) after the Bulls broke the Blackbird's press, but two free throws by LIU's Tara Hamilton knotted the score once more with 33 seconds left in regulation. After a timeout and with the shot clock winding down, Jennings drove down the left lane and hit a layup with five seconds to go in the game for what would prove to be the winning basket. A long three-point attempt by Hamilton with one second left glanced off the back board, ending the game in a 62-60 Buffalo victory.

"I was pleased with what we did offensively tonight," said head coach Cheryl Dozier. "We had good shot distribution and balanced scoring with three in double figures. I was proud of what we did defensively, too. We made things happen and forced them into a lot of turnovers. It was a gutsy team win for us to bounce back with after last night's game and I'm proud of our team for that."

Jessica Kochendorfer

In addition to Kilpela's 14 points, Kochendorfer finished in double digits with a game-high 17 points while also grabbing a game-high nine rebounds. She was named to the All-Tournament Team after averaging 15 points and 8.5 rebounds in Buffalo's two games. Jennings finished with 13 points and five assists, and Kilpela also tied her career-high with four steals.

The Bulls (5-6 overall) now open the Mid-American Conference portion of their 2001-02 schedule with contests at Miami (OH) on Thursday, January 3 at 7 pm and at Akron on Saturday, January 5 at 3:30 pm.