Football

UB has announced its 2000 football schedule, which will include three straight games against Big East opponents to open the season and another tough Mid-American Conference schedule-including a trip to nationally ranked Marshall.

The Bulls will begin their second season of Division I-A football with trips to Big East member Syracuse (Sept. 2) and Rutgers (Sept. 9) before hosting Connecticut in the home opener on Sept. 16th in UB Stadium.

Buffalo also will host MAC members Bowling Green (Sept. 23), Ball State (Oct. 21 for Homecoming), Kent (Nov. 4) and Miami of Ohio (Nov. 18) during the 2000 season. Road games in the MAC portion of the schedule will include trips to Marshall (Sept. 30), Ohio (Oct. 7), Northern Illinois (Oct. 28) and Akron (Nov. 11).

The Bulls once again will reside in the East Division of the MAC and will play divisional games against Bowling Green, Kent, Miami, Akron, Marshall and Ohio. UB's only crossover games will be against Ball State and Northern Illinois.

Basketball

Men

Toledo 93, UB 65
Marshall 93, UB 61

UB fell 93-61 to Marshall Feb. 3 in Mid-American Conference action at Huntington, West Virginia.

Marshall's Tamar Slay, the leading scorer in the MAC, netted 28 on 10-of-18 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds to pace the Thundering Herd to the win. Marshall shot 57.6 percent (38-of-66) from the floor.

The Bulls (5-16, 3-9 MAC) were led by Alexei Vasileev who scored 11 points. Vasileev also led the team with five assists and was made three of his four attempts from behind the three-point arc.

The Bulls continued their struggles on the road Saturday, losing at Toledo 93-65 in their third-straight road game. The Bulls are 1-11 on the road this season and 0-8 in MAC play on the road.

It was an even game early on, tied at 6-6 five minutes into the game, before the Rockets exploded with a big run. Toledo went on a 20-3 run over the next five minutes to quickly bury the Bulls and lead by 17 points, 26-9, with 10:44 to play in the half. Three free throws by Damien Foster would cut the lead to 12 points, 33-21, with 7:21 to play, but UB would get no closer the rest of the game.

Women

UB 66, Ball State 50
UB 71, Ohio 70

UB used a great defensive effort and put four players in double figures to score a crucial, 66-50, MAC road win at Ball State Feb. 3.

The Bulls (16-5, 6-4) used a 16-0 first-half run to pull away from a strong Ball State team that rarely loses at home. It was Buffalo's third straight road MAC win and came on the heels of a disappointing 59-49 loss to Miami of Ohio at home Jan. 29.

Senior Sonia Ortega hit a driving layup with .08 tenths of a second left in regulation as UB defeated Ohio University, 71-70, in Athens.

Ortega's dramatic game-winner gave UB its fourth straight MAC road win and improved the Bulls to 17-5 overall and 7-4 in the conference. It's UB's best Division I mark since the team was 18-4 during the 1996-97 season. The layup capped a game that saw the lead change hands four times in the final minute.

Athletes of the Week

Sophomore Gary Cooper led the wrestling team with a win by fall at 3:21 over 165-pound Bucknell opponent Jason Von Volkenburg. Cooper improved to 31-9 on the season and is now tied for eighth-place all time for single season wins. Junior Sarah Fletcher, a recent transfer from Illinois State and member of the indoor track and field team, set a new UB record in the 20-pound weight throw (58'6.5") at the Eastern Michigan Invitational last weekend. Her NCAA provisional qualifying throw also qualified her for the ECAC's and MAC Championships

Swimming

Men

Eastern Michigan 167, UB 76
Miami 157, UB 86

The Bulls lost their perfect MAC record and fell to 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the MAC in their final home meet of the season. The Bulls lost to Miami, 157-86, and Eastern Michigan, 167-76 in the double dual meet. Eastern Michigan edged out Miami 130-113.

Dan Hickey was the lone winner for Coach Budd Termin's team as he captured top honors in the 200 freestyle (1:40.96). Hickey, along with other seniors Kevin Kelly, Jose Moncion, John Nilles and Dave Sofer were recognized for their contributions to the UB swimming and diving program during the meet.

Women

Eastern Michigan 192, UB 105
Miami 205, UB 92

UB lost to two MAC opponents in front of a home crowd in Alumni Arena Natorium on Saturday and moved to 5-6 overall and 3-5 in the MAC for the season. Miami (OH) defeated the Bulls, 205-92, Eastern Michigan beat UB, 192-105, and Eastern Michigan beat Miami, 176-124.

Once again senior Inger Rooneem led Coach Dorsi Raynold's team with two first place finishes (50 freestyle, 23.85 and the 100 freestyle, 52.12). Other winners for the Bulls included Kim Theetge in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.13) and Dawn Hickey in the 1000 freestyle (10:18.95).

Wrestling

UB 38, Bucknell 3

UB continued its perfection in Alumni Arena on Saturday by posting a dominating 38-3 victory over visiting Bucknell University.

The Bulls dropped just one bout in improving to 9-3 overall and a perfect 6-0 at home this season.