Basketball

Men's

Kent State 91, UB 53
Northwestern 63, UB 57

The Bulls dropped a 91-53 decision to Kent State before a crowd of 4,177 at the M.A.C. Center in Kent, Ohio on Jan. 22.

Athletes of the Week

Byron McKinney of the men's indoor track and field team set a school record with his winning shot-put toss of 53-10.50 at the Bucknell Open on Saturday. The toss broke the school record of 53-4.50 set the night before by Joe Loiacono at the UB Open. McKinney's throw bettered his previous collegiate best of 53-0.75 set at the 2000 MAC Indoor Championships when he was a member of the Kent State squad. Jennefer Brankovsky of the women's swim team took three individual events for the Bulls in their MAC tri-meet Saturday against Ball State and Bowling Green. Brankovsky won the 200 butterfly, an event that she had not competed in this season, in 2:07.41, UB's top time in the race this year. She also won the 200 breaststroke in 2:25.01 and the 400 individual medley in 4:34.42. The Bulls defeated Bowling Green, 209-90, but fell to host Ball State, 150-149.

The Golden Flashes, feeling comfortable on their home court where they have won 43 of the last 47 games, hit an incredible 10 straight three-pointers (10-of-11) and shot a remarkable 63 percent from the field in the opening half to take a 48-17 lead at intermission.

The Bulls regrouped in the second half and were outscored by just five points (42-37) in the final 20 minutes, despite going 2-of-11 from behind the three-point arc.

On Saturday, senior Louis Campbell scored 26 points but it wasn't enough for the Bulls, as visiting Northwestern defeated UB, 63-57, before a crowd of 6,119 in Alumni Arena.

Women's

UB 50, Northern Illinois 39
UB 64, Akron 50

UB snapped a pair of important streaks with a come-from-behind 50-39 win at Northern Illinois University in a Mid-American Conference battle on Jan. 23.

UB broke a three-game losing streak in the MAC and also scored its first win over the Huskies in four meetings since joining the conference in the 1998-99 season. The win was head coach Cheryl Dozier's 60th career victory, and the 39 points are the fewest the Bulls have allowed in a game since a 68-27 win over Oral Roberts during the 1997-98 season.

UB returned home on Saturday as junior Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe tied her career high with 26 points and sophomore Jessica Kochendorfer had 18 points to create a formidable inside-outside combination that propelled the Bulls to a 64-50 win over visiting Akron. The win evens the Bulls' MAC record at 4-4 and improves their overall record to 9-10.

Wrestling

Kent State 28, UB 9
West Virginia 26, UB 6

UB lost a MAC dual meet at Kent State on Friday night by a 28-9 score. The three Bulls' victories were posted by Gary Cooper (174), Garrett Bontempo (184) and Kyle Cerminara (197).

UB then lost to 12th-ranked West Virginia on Saturday by a 26-6 score. UB wrestlers registering wins included Charlie Voorhees (125) and Brian Sebaaly (133).

Indoor track and field

Squads post strong performances at UB, Bucknell opens

UB hosted the UB Open on Friday night in Alumni Arena, and although there was no team scoring, the Bulls posted impressive numbers.

The women won 14 of the 17 contested events. Sophomore Faith Thompson was the lone Bull to win two individual events, taking the shot put with a toss of 42-0.50 (12.81m), and the weight throw with a heave of 51-6.25 (15.70m).

The men took nine of the 17 events. The Bulls posted two double-winners, including freshman sprinter Brian Weinstein in the 55-meter dash (6.85) and the 200-meter dash (23.86). Distance specialist Joel Beatty won the 800 meters (2:05.67) and mile run (4:30.12). Joe Loiacono set a school record by winning the shot put with a toss of 53-4.50 (16.27m).

Several squad members participated at the Bucknell Open in Lewisburg, Penn., on Saturday. Meagan Rogers placed third in the pentathlon with 3,145 points, with teammate Katie Love taking seventh.

For the men, Byron McKinney broke Loaicono's day-old shot put record, winning the event with a toss of 53-10.50. Tim Dance won the 55-meter dash in 6.50. Joe Clark turned in the fastest 500-meter time of the meet with a 1:03.84.

Swimming

Men's

UB 127, Bowling Green 109
Ball State 183, UB 54

UB split a MAC tri-meet Saturday afternoon, defeating Bowling Green, 127-109, but falling to host Ball State, 183-54. UB is now 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the MAC.

The Bulls' lone victory of the meet was in the final event, the 800-free relay. The foursome of Jon Yarger, Tony Lizauckas, Dustin Hui and Alan Lowe touched out Bowling Green's foursome by a half-second with a time of 7:17.19.

Women's

UB 209, Bowling Green 90
Ball State 150, UB 149

By the slimmest of margins, UB just missed a sweep of its MAC tri-meet against Ball State and Bowling Green. The Bulls fell a point short of defeating the host Cardinals, 150-149, but knocked off the Falcons, 209-90. UB is now 4-2 overall and 2-2 in MAC competition.

UB freshman Jennefer Brankovsky took three individual events for the Bulls, winning the 200 butterfly in 2:07.41, the 200 breaststroke in 2:25.01 and the 400 individual medley in 4:34.42. Abby Delia placed first in both backstroke events, taking the 100 in 59.64 and the 200 in 2:07.90.

UB's freshman tandem of Tracy Hoover and Kim LaHaye also swept the diving competitions.