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Hot-Shooting Bulls Defeat Bucknell

Jamie Schiebner

UB controlled the game for over 37 minutes, taking the lead on a Rachelle Matthys (St. Clair, MI/St. Clair) three-pointer. Matthys would hit two more treys, ultimately converting on three three-point field goals in a span of 2:25. With a two-point advantage, UB went on a 10-0 run over seven minutes in the first half, extending its advantage to 12. Sophomore Jamie Schiebner (Saginaw, MI/Heritage) capped off the scoring in the first half, give Buffalo a 15-point halftime lead, which is tied for UB’s largest halftime advantage of the season.

The Bulls continued to be impressive in the second half, leading by as much as 19 when junior Flynn Pyykkonen (Clarkston, MI/Birmingham Marion) hit a layup with 5:47 to go in the game. Bucknell would try and fight back, but the Bulls had an answer for every Bison shot. Junior Stephanie Bennett (Springfield, OH/Kenton Ridge) finished the scoring on a layup with 54 seconds remaining, giving UB an 18-point advantage. Neither team would score after that.

“I am really proud of our team tonight,” said head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald. “It has been a struggle in the first part of season. In many ways we have been very close, but it is not showing in the win-loss column. This was an important game for us because we go into conference play and we needed to convince our team that we are a good basketball team and that we play well when we execute the way we are supposed to and play as a cohesive unit.”

Rachelle Matthys

UB had four players in double figures, led by 15 from Matthys, who went 5-of-7 from behind the arc. Matthys also had five rebounds and four assists. Bennett had 13 points, while Schiebner had the double-double with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds off the bench. Schiebner finished the night 6-of-9 from the floor, while also recording two steals. Senior Belinda Gibb (Denmark, Western Australia/Willetton) completed the double-digit scorers with 10 points and a team-high five assists.

Junior Heather Turner (West Seneca, NY/Mount Mercy Academy) had eight points and six rebounds despite being double and triple teamed through out the evening. Freshman Kourtney Brown (Solon, OH/Solon) added five points and a career-high two blocks.

The Bulls can credit part of their victory to rebounding, holding a 41-26 advantage over the Bison. In the second half alone, UB outrebounded Bucknell by a 21-9 margin. Schiebner and Matthys helped out with that recording five and four boards in the second half, respectively.

UB played 10 different players, getting points out of eight of them, including freshman Ashley Zuber’s (Schnecksville, PA/Parkland) first collegiate three-pointer. Pyykkonen had her first three points of the season, playing just her second game since returning from a knee injury.

As a team UB shot 47.6 percent (10-of-21) from behind the arc, its second most efficient game this year. While Matthys and Bennett led the way at five and three, respectively, while Gibb and Zuber each tacked on one.

Bucknell was led by a game-high 18 points from Lindsey Hollobaugh, while Hope Foster, the nation’s leading shot blocker, added 10 points, four assists and three blocks.

After playing their 12 non-conference games, UB begins its 16-game Mid-American Conference season on Wednesday, Jan. 3, hosting Miami (OH). The Bulls and the RedHawks will tip off at 7:00 pm.