Buffalo Snaps Miami's Win Streak, Win 68-54 at Millett
By: Jack Mueller
Photos Courtesy of: Ellie Reynolds/Miami Athletics
The Buffalo Bulls snapped the Miami RedHawks’ five-game win streak, taking the victory 68-54 at Millett Hall on Saturday. With their third win in a row, Buffalo reaffirms their place in the top three in the MAC weeks ahead of the conference tournament in Cleveland.
“We need to be better.” said Head Coach Glenn Box after the game.
Miami’s offense struggled to get going throughout the afternoon. The RedHawks made just 28% of their 70 (!!!) field goal attempts. The hosts made just two field goals in the first quarter, allowing the Bulls to enter the first intermission with a 20-5 lead.
“That was the worst we’ve looked offensively regarding the execution. The fact we couldn't make a shot just compounded everything.” said Box.
One positive the RedHawks can take away was the performance of Amber Tretter. The sophomore forward put together her best rebounding performance of the season, pulling down 20 boards, 12 of which came on the offensive side of the ball. Her 14 points and three steals were a major reason Miami remained in the game as long as they did.
The RedHawks also saw Enjulina Gonzalez give them solid offensive contributions. The MAC’s third highest scoring player added another 17 to her total on Saturday, leading the team. While Maya Chandler struggled to find consistency (3-19 FG), she tallied ten points of her own, with two threes.
Once again, Chellia Watson (20.3 PPG) led Buffalo on offense. While she didn’t reach her season average, her 18 points and 11 boards were vital in keeping the Bulls on the front foot for the duration of the game. She wasn’t alone either, Sitota Gines shot a perfect 4-4 from beyond the arc, adding six rebounds and two steals as well.
How it Happened
De Vries’ layup got Miami on the board, but the lead did not last long. Five free throws for Lani Cornfield led the Bulls on a 12-0 run spanning over five minutes in the first period. Arianna Seawell and Kirsten Lewis-Williams extended the run to 17, then another Lopez three made it 20 unanswered for the visitors.
Enjulina Gonzalez ended the scoring drought with a three after over eight minutes without a RedHawk bucket. Buffalo responded with a three of their own through Gines, but Maya Chandler and Gonzalez combined for four three pointers to cut the lead to 25-14 midway through the second quarter.
Two apiece for Gonzalez and Tretter cut the deficit to seven with under three to play in the half, but Gines’ second three re-established a double-digit Buffalo lead. Chandler connected for two more, but another Gines three and a Watson layup made it a 13-point game before Gonzalez’s three cut into the lead again.
Both sides struggled to score to open the second half, as it remained 35-25 for the first two minutes of the third quarter. Amber Tretter broke the drought for the RedHawks with a layup, cutting the Buffalo lead to nine before Beaty’s putback made it an 11-point game again. Terah Harness extended that lead to 41-27 with a three before Nuria Jurjo got her first basket of the game for the RedHawks.
Her second basket made it 45-34, before Chandler added two more to bring the RedHawks within nine. The veteran guard and Tretter added two apiece from the free throw line to keep pace with Buffalo, but Alexis Davis’ layup kept the Bulls in the drivers’ seat. Jurjo and Watson traded baskets in the final ten seconds to make it 51-42 going into the final ten minutes.
The RedHawks struggled to close the gap in the fourth, starting the quarter 0-4 from the field. Tretter broke that streak with a second-chance layup on her 16th rebound of the game. Watson reclaimed momentum for the Bulls with an and-one midranger and layup to make it a 13-point game with six minutes to play.
Cornfield’s jumper extended the lead to 15 before five straight Tretter points brought Miami back within ten. Gines’ fourth three of the game killed the momentum there though, putting the Bulls up 13 with three minutes to play. Two free throws from Watson made it 66-51, effectively putting the game out of Miami’s reach.
Lakresha Edwards connected from three to cut the lead to 14, but Buffalo was able to kill the remaining time, sending them back home with a deserved victory.
Up Next
The RedHawks face another long road trip during the week. They head north to take on the Eastern Michigan Eagles hoping to claim their ninth win of the conference campaign. They should have a good chance to, as their opponents are 1-23 and have not won in their last 18 contests.
The game will be played at 7 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on ESPN+.