Western Michigan Broncos at Buffalo Bulls Women's Basketball recap: Bulls fall 92-78

A hot start didn't last, ceding to Western Michigan accuracy from distance, and UB Women's Basketball has now matched their longest skid of the season with a third straight loss, 92-78 to the Broncos.

Stephanie Reid and Joanna Smith combined for 21 points in the first half, and finished with 25 and 24, respectively, but Buffalo could not avoid foul trouble nor stop WMU's pinpoint shooting from outside. The Broncos shot 7-9 from three over the first 24 minutes and finished 8-11 from distance.

UB executed well on offense, shooting around 50% from the floor for much of the game, but WMU matched them while hitting more threes and nearly everything from the free throw line. Jessica Jessing had 26 for the visitors, but three more hit double digits and Western doubled up the Bulls in assists.

Even as the Bulls rallied late in the third behind strong work from the bench and a few threes from Smith, they shot themselves in the foot with continued fouls. As I said in the preview, the common factor in Western Michigan's two MAC losses was a sharp disparity from the line, but UB sent their opponents there 29 times. Also of note, Joanna Smith finished 9-18 from the field and 4-10 from 3 and most of Smith's 10 three point attempts came late in the game. Cassie Oursler only had 1 rebound in the second half.

Reid's 25 was a career high for the sophomore.

UB hits the road Saturday for an afternoon matinee against Miami, at 2:00 PM.