No. 4 UB women’s basketball (18-12, 10-8 MAC) will face the reigning Mid-American Conference (MAC) champions, No. 1 Toledo (26-4, 17-1 MAC), in the MAC semifinal on Friday at 10 a.m.
The Bulls advanced Wednesday after defeating No. 5 Bowling Green (16-14, 10-8 MAC) 70-64 at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland.
UB lost to Toledo by one point in overtime in last year’s MAC quarterfinal, ending the Bulls’ season. Toledo eventually defeated Bowling Green in the MAC championship game, 73-58.
This year’s semifinal appearance is the Bulls’ first since 2022. That year, UB won its third MAC title in six years under former head coach Felisha Legette-Jack.
The Bulls were led on Wednesday by redshirt senior Chellia Watson, who scored a game-high 24 points, and senior guard Rana Elhusseini, who scored 17. UB outscored Bowling Green 24-16 in the fourth quarter to clinch the quarterfinal victory.
Watson led the Bulls with 22.7 points per game this season, a mark that was good for sixth in the country. She was named to the All-MAC First Team on Tuesday.
Thanks to the win, UB will advance to play Toledo. The Rockets defeated No. 8 Western Michigan (12-19, 7-11 MAC) in the quarterfinal round Wednesday, setting up the rematch with UB.
“After losing a heartbreaker last year in the opening round, for us to make that stride to the second round is huge,” UB second-year head coach Becky Burke said in a press release.
Friday’s semifinal is set for a 10 a.m. start at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. It can be streamed on ESPN+.
The winner of UB-Toledo will play either No. 2 Ball State (28-4, 16-2 MAC) or No. 3 Kent State (19-10, 13-5 MAC) in Saturday’s MAC Tournament championship game on CBS Sports Network.
Ryan Tantalo is the managing editor and can be reached at ryan.tantalo@ubspectrum.com
Ryan Tantalo is the managing editor of The Spectrum. He previously served as senior sports editor. Outside of the newsroom, Ryan spends his time announcing college hockey games, golfing, skiing and reading.
Photo: Ryan Hagen | UB Athletics
