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The Basics:
Score: Ohio 78, Buffalo 70
Location: The Convocation Center - Athens, Ohio
The Short Story: The Ohio women's basketball team (22-4,13-2 MAC) clinched a share of its first-ever Mid-American Conference East Division title with a 78-70 victory against Buffalo (15-11, 8-7 MAC) Wednesday night at the Convocation Center.

OHIO STARTERS: #2 Mariah Byard, #4 Kiyanna Black, #5 Quiera Lampkins, #10 Lexie Baldwin, #14 Kat Yelle
BUFFALO STARTERS: #1 Stephanie Reid, #4 Joanna Smith, #25 Kristen Sharkey, #34 Alexus Malone, #44 Christa Baccas



How It Happened:
- Ohio took its first lead, 16-14, at the 10:37 mark of the first half with the offense largely propelled by Kiyanna Black who scored 10 points in that stretch.
- The Bobcats held the Bulls scoreless for six minutes, building a 27-19 lead.
- At the half, Ohio held a 31-24 lead.
- Buffalo turned the ball over 16 times in the first half compared to Ohio's 10 turnovers.
- Black led all scorers with 14 points in the first half.
- Quiera Lampkins added five points in the opening stanza.
- Mackenzie Loesing paced Buffalo in the first half with 13 points and was 3-of-6 from behind the arc.
- The Bobcats opened the second half on an 18-4 run that included a pair of three-pointers from Black and Mariah Byard, expanding its lead to 49-28 at the 13:34 mark of the second half.
- Buffalo would counter with a 20-2 run of its own to cut the Ohio lead to 51-48 with 7:46 remaining in the game.
- Ohio shot 25-of-59 (42.4 percent) from the field for the game.
- Black finished a team-high 26 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists.
- Lampkins added 15 points and six rebounds.
- Byard scored 19 points.
- Buffalo turned the ball over 27 times.
- The Bulls shot 23-of-58 (39.7 percent) in the contest.
- Mackenzie Loesing was Buffalo's leading scorer with a game-high 32 points.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- With the win, Ohio clinched a share of its first ever MAC East title.
- Black reached double digits in scoring for the 23rd time this season the 52nd time in her Ohio career.
- Black has scored at least 20 points in seven games this season.
- By hitting nine threes, Ohio set a new record for three-pointers made in one season with 240, breaking the previous record of 234 set in the 2007-08 campaign.
- Jasmine Weatherspoon recorded a career-high seven steals.

QUOTABLE
Head Coach Bob Boldon:
"I think it's exciting. I'm really happy for the kids. They put in a lot of work this summer to try to get to this position."

Junior guard Kiyanna Black:
"I mean, it's exciting, but we really want the MAC Tournament championship banner."

Senior guard Mariah Byard
"It's really great. I can't put it any other way. It's really a great year to go out on. I mean, my first three years here were kind of tough, so for us to accomplish something like (a division title) is awesome."



COMING UP
The Bobcats remain in Athens for their next contest, hosting Bowling Green on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m.

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