Preview: Buffalo Bulls Women’s Basketball travels to Akron looking to get back into shape

Sustaining an awful loss to Bowling Green on the road, Buffalo Bulls Women’s Basketball has two games left on their MAC slate to get into gear for the MAC Tournament. UB sits at 9-7 in conference play and are pretty much locked out from getting a quarterfinal bye in the tournament, but they’re guaranteed a home campus round game.

If the Bulls can play like they did vs. Ohio just two games ago, they’re better than any team in the conference, but for now they’re also the most inconsistent. A few things need to happen in tonight’s matchup with Akron as the Bulls try to pull it all together.

Buffalo seriously needs to get back to their roots and dominate the rebounding battle. This is one of the most neglected categories for the Bulls since MAC play began and it should be a strength for them. UB isn’t a good shooting team, so every board — especially of the offensive kind — will go a long way.

Buffalo also needs more than JoAnna Smith and Stephanie Reid to carry the offense. The Bulls aren’t going to win the MAC Tournament without 1-2 more players that can consistently score the ball. You can’t rely on freshmen like Summer Hemphill and Theresa Onwuka to light it up every game, which means UB needs a Cassie Oursler or a Mariah Suchan to bring in some production. It would also be great if Gabi Bade tore it up to end the season.

If the above happens along with the same defensive pressure the Bulls have been doing a great job as of late with, then they have a chance. A struggling Akron team on the road is a great place to start.

The Zips have not won a game since late January but have come close since UB’s blowout 81-51 win over them. This should by no means be a loss for the Bulls as long as they keep Hannah Plybon and Megan Sefcik in check.