WBB Falls At Home To Buffalo

Saturday, February 5

Mount Pleasant, MI

1 p.m.

Central Michigan University

4-17,2-10MAC

Buffalo

14-7,8-3MAC

Buffalo

Central Mich.

Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw

2/5/2022 4:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Katherine Schultz, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Buffalo utilized a 12-2 run in the fourth quarter on Saturday, defeating Central Michigan, 82-74, in a Mid-American Conference women's basketball game at McGuirk Arena.

The Chippewas fell to 4-17, 2-10 MAC. Buffalo improved to 13-7, 7-3.

CMU is slated to play host to Kent State (11-7, 3-6) in a MAC game on Wednesday, Feb. 9 (7 p.m.). The Chippewas fell to the Golden Flashes, 68-57, on Feb. 2 at the M.A.C. Center. Kent State won at Eastern Michigan, 70-61, on Saturday.

Buffalo outscored CMU, 48-38, in the paint and led in rebounds, 48-36.

CMU was one point shy of its season high – 75 at Buffalo in the MAC opener on Dec. 29 – and the Chippewas committed only 12 turnovers, more than five below their average and just two more than their season low.

Molly Davis led the Chippewas with 25 points, while Jahari Smith finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds to log her ninth double-double of the season. Freshman Hanna Knoll tied her season high with 11 points.

"We had three people in double figures," CMU coach Heather Oesterle said. "And we kept our turnovers down. The last time we played (Buffalo), we had 27 turnovers, we had 12 today, and I was really proud of them for the way they took care of the ball."

It was a tight game through three quarters. Buffalo led 19-18 after one quarter; the game was tied at halftime, 36-36, and after three quarters, 62-62.

Smith ended Buffalo's run with a bucket with 2:32 to play, but CMU could get no closer than six points the rest of the way.

"We've got to get our guards in there and rebounding," Oesterle said. "I thought a lot tipped off of our hands and Buffalo would go snatch it, and we've got to be more aggressive snatching the ball."

Knoll and Karrington Gordon each grabbed a career-high in rebounds. Knoll picked up six while Gordon grabbed five.

"I thought we put more time together today," Oesterle said. "For three quarters, we were right with them. I do think we're getting better, and there's glimpses of a team that could be pretty special."