Ladies's basketball memorable playoff run minimize brief in MAC Championship recreation – College at Buffalo The Spectrum

Kent State’s inside strain pressured the Bulls to double-team within the paint, leaving exterior shooters open to knock down photographs from behind the arc. 
Ladies’s basketball (19-13, 10-8 MAC) fell to Kent State (21-10, 13-5 MAC) 78-60 within the Mid-American Convention (MAC) Championship recreation Saturday morning. The Bulls led at halftime by 4, however the second half noticed Kent State go on an 11-0 run, which proved to be insurmountable. The Golden Flashes will characterize the MAC within the NCAA match successful their sixth MAC Championship in program historical past. 
Redshirt senior Chellia Watson and senior guard Rana Elhusseini had been each named to the All-Match group.
Previous to right this moment’s matchup, Kent State defeated UB in each conferences (Jan. 3, 73-64 and March 2, 67-59). This was the primary ever MAC Championship recreation performed between the 2 faculties. 
Proper from the tip noticed the beginning of a back-and-forth battle. Elhusseini knocked down a pair of free throws to open up the scoring for the Bulls. Kent State answered again with a 9-0 run to open a lead of seven early within the first quarter. The Golden Flashes established their presence within the paint early, which stayed constant all through the remainder of the sport. A pair of 3-pointers by sophomore Hattie Ogden and  Watson proved important to maintain the sport shut. The primary body noticed Kent State lead 20-15. 
Elhusseini heated up within the second quarter, as her 6 straight factors helped UB regain the lead. Buffalo’s suffocating protection halted Kent State, because the Golden Flashes went 5 minutes with out scoring a basket. The Bull’s sizzling hand continued with massive performs by each Ogden and freshman guard Alexis Davis. 
As the ultimate seconds light away within the first half, Watson discovered herself in isolation on the high of the arc. Her step-back three-pointer wanted each a part of the rim earlier than falling because the buzzer sounded. The half ended 34-30 in favor of the Bulls. Watson led all scorers with 13 factors within the opening 20 minutes. 
The second appeared hopeful, as Elhusseini opened up the scoring as soon as once more with a 3. At 37-30, the Bulls would have their largest lead of the sport. 
After which Kent State discovered their groove. 
What adopted was an 11-0 run by the Golden Flashes, fueled by sophomore guard Dionna Grey. She got here into the sport a 24.1% three-point shooter. She knocked down three triples within the third quarter alone. 
Kent State’s inside strain pressured the Bulls to double-team within the paint, leaving exterior shooters open to knock down photographs from behind the arc. The third quarter closed with Kent State senior guard Katie Shumate flattening a close to 30-foot triple to offer the Golden Flashes a 59-47 lead. Shumate completed the sport with a team-high 18 factors. Kent State’s 29-point third quarter almost equaled their first two quarters mixed (30 factors). 
The ultimate quarter noticed extra of the identical from Kent State. Outscoring the Bulls by 6 factors within the concluding 10 minutes, Kent State held on to their result in turn into the 2024 MAC Champions.
The ultimate end result noticed Kent State achieve a number of key classes. They outscored Buffalo 20-5 in factors off turnovers. The Bulls misplaced 5 extra turnovers than their opponents and dedicated eight extra fouls. The Golden Flashes’ 34 factors in paint — in comparison with the Bull’s 26 — proved to be the distinction. 
Although not the end result the Bulls needed, girls’s basketball held their very own this season. 
UB was ranked No. 8 in this year’s preseason poll, and this was the primary MAC Championship recreation for the Bulls in simply the second yr of latest head coach Becky Burke. 
Evan Hilbert is an assistant sports activities editor and may be reached at evan.hilbert@ubspectrum.com
Evan Hilbert is an assistant sports activities editor at The Spectrum. He is also a three-season student-athlete with UB’s DI cross nation, indoor monitor, and outside monitor group. He’s a fan of the Milwaukee Bucks, Newcastle United F.C., and the Buffalo Payments. 

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