There's nothing more painful than shooting yourself in the foot in an important game, but that's how the UB women's basketball team has been limiting themselves thus far this season.
Coming off a disappointing loss Sunday night against the Northern Illinois Huskies in which the Bulls committed 26 turnovers, it's no secret to UB Head Coach Cheryl Dozier what the Bulls' focus in practice on Monday and Tuesday was going to be.
"I think the biggest key for Wednesday is coming into the game with a high level of confidence and taking care of the basketball. ... We turned the ball over 26 times in the game against NIU, and that can lead up to anywhere from 30 to 40 points off turnovers," she said Monday afternoon. "We're a good basketball team when we take care of the ball, so one major focus for Wednesday is cutting down on turnovers."
With Sunday's loss, Buffalo now stands 11-9 overall, 3-6 in the MAC, steady in third place in the MAC East, tied with Marshall in the conference. Their next game is on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. against the visiting Bowling Green State University Falcons in Alumni Arena. Bowling Green stands last in the MAC West division with a 10-10 overall record, 3-6 MAC.
Unlike the Bulls, Bowling Green is coming off a big victory that snapped a previous four-game losing streak, defeating Toledo 66-62. The Falcons' Francine Miller, who was a preseason All-MAC selection, will pose a dangerous threat on Wednesday night. Dozier has assigned UB's own Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe to play against Miller.
"Francine Miller can shoot from outside ... post up ... penetrate ... it'll be a very intriguing match up between her and Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe," said Dozier.
Miller is averaging 13.6 points per game, with a .397 field goal percentage, 5.9 rebounds per game, and has 14 blocks and 42 steals on the season. McMeeken-Ruscoe is averaging 14.1 points per game with a .492 field goal percentage, four rebounds per game, 34 steals and 74 assists on the season.
UB will have to solve the puzzle that Bowling Green's defense will present to them. The Bulls are tied with Ball State for the best three-point shooting percentage in the MAC with a .429, but at the same time Bowling Green holds the best defense against the trifecta with a .313 percentage. So what is Buffalo going to do about the suffocating defense they will probably see Wednesday night?
"We're going to look to try and go inside, and we won't be surprised if they come out in a zone against us," said Dozier.
Buffalo's offensive attacks have been successful when they do not turn the ball over on the possession, so they will have to put it all together to prevent that tendency.
The Bulls host Western Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 16, at 2 p.m. in Alumni Arena before departing for an away game at Ohio on the Feb. 18.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
