FOLLOW OHIO WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Box Score (PDF)

ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball team (17-10, 10-6 MAC) fell to Buffalo (16-11, 7-9 MAC), 63-62, on Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center.

Ohio was led by junior forward Gabby Burris (Baltimore, Ohio), who had 16 points and seven rebounds in 36 minutes on the floor. Burris was 6-of-9 from the field and 2-of-3 from the three-point line.

"I thought Gabby (Burris) did a good job of getting shots and taking shots and her decision when to shoot, when to pass and when to drive was excellent," head coach Bob Boldon said. "It's nice to see, she's been with us a long time and she's fought through some things."

Junior guard Cece Hooks (Dayton, Ohio) put up 16 points, three steals and three assists in 40 minutes on the floor. Senior guard Amani Burke (Columbus, Ohio) added 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting, four rebounds and three steals. Redshirt sophomore Erica Johnson (Mansfield, Ohio) produced 13 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals. Redshirt sophomore Caitlyn Kroll (Bridgeport, Ohio) had three points and four rebounds on the day, while freshman guard Peyton Guice (Westerville, Ohio) had one point and a rebound.

Overall, Ohio shot 23-of-58 (39.7 percent) from the field, 6-of-21 (28.6 percent) from the three-point range and 10-of-18 (55.6 percent) from the free throw line. Buffalo shot 26-of-64 (40.6 percent) overall, 3-of-20 (15.0 percent) from deep and 8-of-10 (80.0 percent) from the charity stripe.

The Bulls outrebounded the Bobcats 44-30. Ohio had eight offensive rebounds while UB had 15. Burris led Ohio with seven while Johnson had six. Burke Kroll and sophomore forward Edecia Beck (Grand Rapids, Mich.) all had four boards.

The Bobcats opened the game with back-to-back three-point jumpers from Burke and Kroll to put Ohio up six with 8:45 left to play in the first quarter. After exchanging buckets, a Hooks layup gave Ohio a 12-9 lead going into the media timeout. Out of the media timeout, Hooks sank a free throw followed by a Burke layup to extend Ohio's lead. After back-to-back buckets from Buffalo, a Hooks banked-in three put the Bobcats up five with 1:56 left to play in the first quarter. Two Buffalo free throws brought the score to 18-15 at the end of the frame.

The Bobcats opened the second quarter with a layup from Burris to extend their lead. Buffalo was able to grab the lead but Johnson put Ohio up 23-22 with 5:00 minutes. Buffalo opened with a layup out of the media timeout but Ohio grabbed an advantage with a 7-0 run. The Bulls attempted to chip away at the lead with two free throws and a jumper, but a Hooks layup kept the Bobcats on top, 32-28, at the end of the half.

Ohio shot 12-of-28 (42.9 percent) in the first half and 3-of-11 (27.3 percent) from behind the three-point line. Hooks led the Bobcats with 13 points and three assists, while Johnson had seven points, pulled down two rebounds and dished out two assists.

Ohio opened the third quarter with a free throw from Hooks. After the Bulls and Bobcats traded baskets, a Burris three-point basket gave a 45-37 advantage with 5:19 left in the third quarter. Out of the media timeout, Buffalo went on a 12-0 to go up with 37.9 left to play in the third quarter. Burke ended the UB run with a layup to bring the game to 49-49.

Buffalo opened the fourth quarter with a layup to take the lead, but Burris kept the Bobcats on top with a three-point basket and two made free throws. Buffalo jumped ahead again, but Burris tied the game at 59-59 with 5:00 minutes remaining. The Bulls pulled ahead with 3:46 left, but a Hooks layup on the next possession knotted the game up at 61-61. Keowa Walters of UB put Buffalo ahead 1:02 remaining. Hooks stole the ball and missed a game-tying layup with seven seconds left, but Guice grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled with 0.7 seconds remaining. Guice made the first free throw but missed the second and Ohio fell, 63-62.

Ohio will be back in action on Wednesday, March 4 at Kent State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. in the M.A.C. Center.

#BleedGreen