CLEVELAND -- It'll be a tall order for the UB women in this afternoon's quarterfinals at the Q. Akron, the No. 3 seed, went 21-8 and swept the season series with a pair of convincing victories. The Zips have the MAC Player of the Year in 6-1 redshirt junior Rachel Tecca and the nation's assist leader in Kacie Cassell.
UB got 24 points out of guard Mackenzie Loesing in Wednesday's win over Miami -- the highest point total by a Bull this season and the most by a UB freshman since Heather Turner's 24 against Miami in 2005. Loesing has hit double figure in eight straight. Sophomore Christa Baccas also had a big game against the RedHawks, tying her career high with 15 boards while facing the conference's leading rebounder in Kirsten Olowinski.
On the men's side, UB gets its third crack at Kent State (19-12) at 6:30 tonight. The Flashes pulled away late to win 80-68 in Buffalo Jan. 16 and got a buzzer-beating basket from all-MAC forward Chris Evans to score an 83-81 OT victory on Feb. 27. UB's fate could be determined by its ability to contain Randal Holt. The senior guard is 11 of 14 from three against them this year.
UB's coming off a 76-61 conquest of Ball State, a comeback victory fueled by Will Regan's 36-point outburst. That's the eighth-highest single-game point total in tourney history.
This is where fatigue can start to become an issue for both UB teams. The women are playing their third game in six days, the men their third in four days. Meanwhile, both their opponents have had
at least six days off.
-- Bob DiCesare
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College basketball | Mid-American Conference | University at Buffalo
