Buffalo Wingin' It

Hedderson on Fire with 39 points!

2011-12-23T15:37:00.002-05:00

Senior Brittany Hedderson led the Bulls to overtime victory over Oakland on Thursday, December 22nd. Britt's 39 points marked a school record, which had stood for over 30 years. The previous record for points in a game was 38, which Regina Frazier set against D'Youville during the 1977-78 season. Atta girl, Britt!

'Tis the Season

2011-12-23T15:32:00.004-05:00

You’ve all been so amazingly supportive of us throughout the years and we want you to know how much your support means to us. We are grateful beyond words. We wish you and your loved ones happy holidays. GO BULLS!

Downtime in DC...

2011-12-23T14:57:00.006-05:00

The Bulls got to tour the Nation's Capitol before facing Howard Bison on Tuesday night, December 20th.

What an achievement...

2011-12-23T14:52:00.004-05:00

During our game against St. Bonaventure on December 10, Brittany Hedderson went over the 1,000 point mark in her career. Britt is just the 20th player in school history to do so. Congratulations!

Bulls-Griffs Sibling Rivalry

2011-12-21T16:51:00.006-05:00

Playing Canisius is like a sibling rivalry where we've always been the little sister. But we've grown up. It was a rough first two years, but it was time for us to make our stand. After coming off the largest margin victory the previous year, we knew we had to make a stand again. It was our time to show who the best team in Buffalo really is. It felt like the summer again. Like the refs and fans didn't exist. It was showing that all the blood and sweat from the summer paid off. That all those late night, grueling runs that left us feeling beat up at lift the next morning gave us the extra edge. It was like we were playing against ourselves, with us knowing their every little move, and with them knowing ours. At game time it was about executing, with us knowing exactly what we had to do and how we had to play them, but also having fun and reminding ourselves that we've beaten them over and over again and now it was time to take a stand. After the ending buzzer, all I could do is smile. We held onto the bragging rights again. We did it. Being a senior, I won't have to worry about seeing them around and hearing the chirping or a "maybe next year." I cannot wait until pick up again to see the Griffs and continue the dominance by UB. To get those wins back on our side and hopefully one day to have the Bulls become the older sister beating up on the younger one constantly. It's our time to keep it going, and now it just lands in the hands of our Juniors, Sophomores, Freshmen, and incoming class. And I know they are going to make us proud!

~ Britt Hedderson #23

Bulls taking on Syracuse...

2011-11-22T17:00:00.000-05:00

Kash's First Couple of Months of College...

2011-11-18T11:02:00.006-05:00

Hey everyone,

My name is Kasheema Besley. I am 18 years old and I am a freshman student athlete here atthe University at Buffalo. I play point guard on the women's basketball team. Getting the chance to play at Division 1 level is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. There are a lot of people my age who don't get the chance to do so. So being here is still a little surreal for me.

College has really been what I expected and much more. College is not as crazy and hectic as I thought it would actually be. Coming from high school, I knew UB was going to be tough and a lot of hard work so I came in with the mentality to just focus really hard on my school work first and basketball second.

Homework, homework, and more homework. That is all I do now besides basketball of course. But I enjoy playing basketball so it doesn't phase me. However, homework is something I don't like to do and I have a lot of it. At the beginning of the school year, it was easy to manage studying and basketball because we were in pre-season with only a few workouts. Now that we are in season, it is much more difficult to get homework done, study, and most importantly, sleep! The biggest thing for me is time management. I try to space out my day so I have time to study either before or after practice so I get in bed at reasonable hour. College, minus the homework, has been exciting. I'm looking forward to traveling for games all across the country!

Sincerely,

Kasheema Besley #3

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-30T14:57:00.005-04:00

Click Me: http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/9FkhabwIAknuwLzY

Coaching staff celebrating Coach Charity's birthday :)

2011-10-23T21:45:00.005-04:00

Oh yes - the Hula Dance did happen!

Dave & Buster's 2011-12 Season Tip-Off

2011-10-23T21:45:00.000-04:00

Turn your volume up...

"Lady Linda Hill MacDonald" Top View

2011-10-18T20:12:00.000-04:00

"Lady Linda Hill MacDonald" Floor View

2011-10-18T20:08:00.000-04:00

Fans go "Goo Goo for Gaga"

2011-10-18T18:51:00.008-04:00

This year at Bulls Madness, Coach Mac went above and beyond for our "6th Man" fans. She dressed in her Lady Gaga attire, sung her heart out and got everyone on their feet. The performance got all of our fans excited for what we have to bring this season. Fans- get ready for an exciting season! GO BULLS! ~ Sharkey #25

My Super Summer Experience...

2011-10-18T18:20:00.010-04:00

What did I do over the summer? I had an amazing time! No, I wasn't in Venice or chilling with Kobe Bryant (although that would have been a GREAT time!), but I was working. I had the magnificent opportunity to do an internship. It was more of an internship/work/volunteer opportunity, but you get my drift. I worked on campus for Dr. Heather Orom. She had me participate in numerous learning experiences. Among the many things I did, we continued writing a systematic review and I worked on a study involving men with prostate cancer. For the study I not only worked behind the scenes, but I was able to interact with potential and on-going participants. In addition, I was able to shadow a urologist at work, Dr. Willie Underwood III. Not only was I able to observe his clinical interactions, but I was able to watch several surgeries - one of the highlights of my life! The surgeries can only be described using one word (and a thesaurus), they were AMAZING, SPECTACULAR, EXTRAORDINARY... just PHENOMENAL!

This experience taught me many things. First, it is always worthwhile to explore the opportunities around you. I did not realize all the potential learning experiences that UB has to offer and due to the kindness of others and the willingness of them to expose me to things of my interest, I was able to do so. Second, it takes a lot of hard work to do what you love. Despite the wonderful experience I had, this summer was a lot of hard work (especially in addition to all the work we were putting in on the court!). What motivated me the most was my environment, since I was surrounded by extremely determined people. Despite the hard and often stressful work, their passion and determination never lingered. In fact, it seemed to grow with every interaction or task completed. This speaks well to what our coaches preach, which is that in order for us to be successful, we must be willing to put in the work (blood, sweat, and tears included!). Finally, this experience confirmed my aspiration to help people. No matter how good or bad the days were, one thing that was always evident with my summer colleagues was their genuine commitment to the health of others. It was a special thing to see the joy they got from helping others and the appreciation of those who were aided. I am humbled to have been given such a great life experience and I am determined to continue along a similar path of work in public health in the future.

~ Teresa Semalulu # 22

Bulls Madness - Be There of Be Square!

2011-10-13T14:04:00.000-04:00

Bulls Madness: BE THERE!

2011-10-11T12:30:00.001-04:00

Niagara Falls Up Close & Personal

2011-10-04T19:05:00.010-04:00

The best part about living in Buffalo is all the different attractions. This past weekend, my teammates Beth Christensen and Nicki Hopkins joined me on a trip to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Niagara Falls. We went on the Maid of the Mist, which turned out to be one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Maid of the Mist is a boat excursion that takes you right to the throat of the falls. After we bought our tickets, we headed to the elevator, which brought us from the ground level to where the boat was docked. There were twenty people packed into this little silver space that took us on a ride for thirty-five seconds. Standing arm to arm with a sweaty, smelly stranger made those thirty-five seconds feel like hours. Once we got to the docking area, the elevator doors opened and people spilled out of it rushing toward the line. Being the competitive college athletes that we are, we were determined to get to the front of that line so that we had a spot in the front of the boat. Needless to say, we managed to get to the front of the boat and enjoyed the ride into the mist.
~ #25 Kristen Sharkey

Engaging the Youth...

2011-10-02T16:38:00.001-04:00

On Saturday, September 17, our team, along with the men's team, participated in the annual University Heights Basketball Clinic held on UB's South Campus. There were about 25 campers who worked on their shooting, defense, passing, and ball handling. At the end, the kids had an opportunity to challenge a coach to a game of 1 on 1. Free lunch for all was at stakes should a camper win. Long story short, the kids won their lunch, but it wasn't thanks to Brittany or anyone else...

Ask Reggie Witherspoon what happened... :)

Happy Birthday, Britt!

2011-09-26T19:39:00.000-04:00

Nothing says Happy Birthday from Mom and Dad than this:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRITT :)

Nicki's Internship with the Bisons

2011-09-26T12:57:00.005-04:00

"This summer I had the privilege of working for the Buffalo Bisons, the triple A affiliate of the New York Mets. As a marketing and promotions intern, I had a wide variety of responsibilities. During the pregame, we organized and lined up first pitches and ceremonies. Then, during the g ame the other interns and I selected people from the crowd to participate in promotions in the stands or on the field throughout the game. We also pumped up the crowd during inning breaks with t-shirt tosses and dugout dances. Let's just say we had to break out of our shells a little.
My experience this summer also involved a lot of behind the scenes work. I went into the office to get things prepared for every game. Some of my office responsibilities included creating game scripts for the press box, which showed what order and which inning break promotions and ads would run, along with putting the PA book together for the announcer, which included the reads for these events. I created several pregame, in-game, and post-game reads for this book and for the announcer. On top of all this, I called and scheduled the National Anthem singers. I had several other little responsibilites as well. Overall, my internship experience was amazing, where I learned a lot, made numerous connections, and made many friends. I am so happy I got to be a part of the Bisons organization this summer.
....O and did I mention I was a mascot sometimes too??" ~ Nicki # 5

Team Picnic

2011-09-22T13:48:00.025-04:00

The team headed to Coach Mac's house a few weeks ago to kick off the new season with our annual picnic. As always, it was a blast (potluck lunch, team bonding, bonfire, s'mores, etc.) It was tough to compete with last year's orienteering activity, but this year's "minute to win it" activity was up there. The players were split into seven pairs. The competitions were challenging - lots of rubber band shooting, dice balancing on popsickle sticks, bananas hanging on a string from waist, bouncing pencils into glasses, building can pyraminds with shared pasta noodles... Without further ado, Hail to the Champions - Margeaux & Coach Mac!

Inspirational Song of the Week: Ain't No Stopping Us Now

2011-03-01T10:37:00.002-05:00

As we end the regular season and begin to prepare for the MAC tournament, Coach Pearson's inspirational song is appropriate. Listen to Ain't No Stopping Us Now by McFadden and Whitehead!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyGP7FtcfTs

What She Said....The TIME is NOW!

2011-03-01T10:32:00.002-05:00

The TIME is NOW!!! Post season is right around the corner with our first round MAC championships game on Saturday, March 5th at Alumni Arena. Being a freshman and experiencing this for the first time is extremely exiting!! Everything before this tournament is meant to be lessons for the greatest prize of being MAC champions. I like to think of going into MACs as a whole new season. Everyone is given an equal chance to keep their season alive. We must stay focused together as a team on what we want to accomplish. I believe in our coaches to prepare us to our finest for each and every game and I believe in us as a team to execute the way we are told. It is going to take a lot of heart and determination in order to be the best next week. This season has been extremely memorable with Kourtney Brown and Ashley Zuber breaking school records. Jessica Fortman becoming a 1000 point scorer and countless players breaking their own career highs. To really top what everyone has individually accomplished would be winning the MAC championship. We have a long road ahead of us but as long as we believe in what we can do and play OUR game we have the ability to be an unstoppable force. Consistency is key in this final stretch of the 2010-2011 season.

On Saturday, February 26th Kourtney Brown, Jessica Fortman, Bridgette Kendricks, and Ashley Zuber were all recognized for their endless hours in the gym and contribution to the program here at UB. It was their senior night that was capped off with a 70-65 win over Ohio University. Bridgette Kendricks recorded a career high 12 rebounds, while Ashley Zuber also recorded a career high 8 rebounds (Zuber is 5’4’’). Kourtney Brown rejected a career high 9 blocks and Nicki Hopkins scored a career high 17 points. I guess you can say it was quite the career night for the team on Saturday. I’m so grateful to have been able to be on the same team as the four seniors this season. They set the bar each day in practice and lead by example. They give us underclassmen big shoes to fill! But they have showed us that hard work pays off and the possibilities are endless. There isn’t another group of seniors that I could imagine that can lead a team to a MAC championship. Let’s get it!! Good Luck Seniors in the years to come!! I’m going to miss all of you!!

Come out and support us on March 5th at 7pm in Alumni Arena as we begin our road to the championship!!

~Sharkey ('14)

Inspirational Song of the Week: I Believe

2011-02-21T11:14:00.002-05:00

I Believe by Yolanda Adams is the song that inspires Nicki Hopkins ('13). Listen to it below...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WDY_xr0koM

Heart of a Champion!

2011-02-10T09:43:00.003-05:00

Nytor Longar finds inspiration in the song, Heart of a Champion by Nelly. Check it out below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jwZBqGPgVE

Inspirational Song of the Week: In the Arms of an Angel

2011-02-03T12:11:00.003-05:00

Coach Charity finds inspiration in the song, In the Arms of an Angel by Sarah McLaughlin. Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVbkz_3lO3c

Kristen Sharkey ('14) updates you on the season.

2011-02-03T12:03:00.004-05:00

Read what Sharkey had to say about two of her teammates....

It is hard to believe that I am starting my freshman spring semester as a student athlete here at UB. With all the excitement of basketball and studying for class, time flies by really fast! Before we know it we will be heading into post season with our heads held high and ready to dominate any opponent that steps in our way. Like I have said before, we are a force to be reckoned with. As long as we prepare our minds and our bodies we will be unstoppable. On Wednesday afternoon we played Central Michigan of the MAC West and showed them that we are a tough team to beat. With a score of 92-89 we came out on top. Kourtney Brown became the school’s all time leading scorer and rebounder while Jessica Fortman joined the very prestigious 1000 point club. Unfortunately I was unable to make the contest due to a high ankle sprain so I had to stay back in Buffalo and listen to the game via internet. I wish I was there to experience such milestones in my friends’ basketball careers but sometimes you just got to take what life throws at you and strive forward.

Speaking of striving forward, we are going to begin our second round of MAC East play next week and are ready for what is to come. Every day we work hard to become a better team. Basketball is a lot like school. You can’t just sit in class and expect to know everything and get straight A’s. It takes time out of the classroom with reading and studying to reach your true potential. It is the same with basketball. You can’t just simply show up to be the best. You have to stay focused all practice, be excited to learn, and even put extra time in the gym on your own. The preparation for a game is the same as a test. You have to know the players and understand their strengths and weaknesses and how to overcome them just like you need to know concepts for a test and understand them. Being a student athlete has been the biggest blessing in my life. To be able to do the thing I love and get an education at the same time is truly awarding. I am learning so much about myself as a person and what my capabilities are. With hard work comes great reward! Just ask Kourtney Brown or Jessica Fortman, all their hard work over their careers’ is rewarding them with their names forever being remembered in UB history. Come out and support the BULLS on Saturday for a double header starting with the Men @ 12pm versus Northern Illinois and the Women @ 2:30pm versus Ball State!! It will sure be one to remember as Kourtney Brown will go for her 1000th rebound which will be the first woman to do so in all the years of Buffalo Women’s Basketball!

LET’S GO BULLS!!!!!!

Till I Collapse...

2011-01-18T11:30:00.002-05:00

Listen to the song that inspires Ashley Zuber ('11) the most, Till I Collapse by Eminem. If you know anything about Ashley, then you know this song is very fitting for her life!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX6fayT6SSQ

Busy, Busy, Busy....Sorry for the delay!

2011-01-14T12:10:00.003-05:00

Kristen Sharkey ('14) gives a update on the season thus far...

As you may already know we finished our non-conference play on January 2nd with a win over Ivy League’s Brown University. Going into MAC play we were 7-6 with confidence that we are a force to be reckoned with. This season so far has been going extremely well. We had some tough games against Big Ten, SEC, and A10 teams. It really shows that we can hang in there with the big dogs and we are a tough opponent as well. We will never back down in any game situation. Being a freshman and being able to experience all this for the first time has been really exciting. Success is knocking at our door and everyday as we prepare we are getting closer and closer to welcoming that success with open arms. Believing that we can do anything is what will pull us through to victory. Now it is time to clear the slate board and not dwell on the games we previously played. We must use them as tools to learn from and see how we need to better ourselves to be a true contender for the MAC title.

On January 5th we opened MAC play with a 61-45 win over Akron. Our tough defense held them to 29% from the field and 23% from behind the arc. We held their top scorer to a mere 4 points and frustrated them early in the game with lots of ball pressure and energy. We let our defense create our offense by forcing turnovers and capitalizing on them. We are all very excited about what is in store for us this season. We are working hard every day in practice to do big things! This is our time to start a winning tradition here at UB and be a force in the Mid-American Conference.

I'm Stronger, I'm Wiser....

2010-12-16T15:47:00.002-05:00

Check out the inspirational song for this week, chosen by Ephesia Holmes ('12). Her song is, Never Would Have Made It by Marvin Sapp.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWrGjzBheno

Teresa has the Eye of the Tiger!

2010-12-08T12:39:00.003-05:00

Eye of the Tiger by Survivor is this week's inspirational song, as chosen by Teresa Semalulu ('12).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btPJPFnesV4

The Greatest!

2010-11-30T11:13:00.003-05:00

The inspirational song for this week is from Beth Christensen ('12). The World's Greatest by R Kelly is the song that "gets her going."

Check out the link below...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgcovIu3k9o

Ice Baths Are Never Fun!

2010-11-23T09:16:00.003-05:00

Nicki Hopkins ('13) and Ephesia Holmes ('12) enjoying their ice bath...or not!

Rocky - Buffalo WBB Style

2010-11-22T13:44:00.003-05:00

While in Philadelphia taking on the Temple Owls, we had the chance to stop by the Museum of Art where a few of the players reenacted the legendary scene from the movie Rocky.

Kourtney Brown is "Owning It!!'

2010-11-22T13:32:00.007-05:00

This weeks inspirational song is from Kourtney Brown ('11). She chose the song, Lose Yourself, by Eminem.

"You own it, you better never let it go" is her favorite line from the song...

http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-H-TbOAte0

Margeaux believes she can fly....

2010-11-15T16:13:00.007-05:00

The inspirational song for this week was chosen by freshman, Margeaux Gupilan. Her song is I Believe I Can Fly by R. Kelly.

Margeaux's favorite line from this song is: I believe I can fly...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16FdJrrAWSo

Inspirational Song of the Week: The Climb

2010-11-08T12:58:00.006-05:00

Every week we will post an inspirational song as chosen by each member of the WBB team. The 1st song is from our head coach, Coach Hill-MacDonald. The link to her song can be found below.

Coach Mac's favorite lines from this song are:

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG2zyeVRcbs

And So It Begins!

2010-11-08T12:50:00.002-05:00

Find out what Sharkey had to say about practice beginning and her senior teammates...

October was definitely one to remember! Over the last couple of weeks we have been working extremely hard on the court and in the classroom to get ready for the 2010-2011 season. I am so excited to see how our hard work will pay off!

On October 4th we had our first official practice! This was especially memorable for Margeaux, Rachel and I because we are freshman and this was our first official practice as Division I athletes. My motivation going into this practice was thinking about how hard I worked to get to this point and that if I keep it up the possibilities are endless. The intensity at every practice is nothing like I have ever experienced before. In high school not everyone wants to take basketball to the next level so it is hard to get everyone excited and ready to work at every practice. At Buffalo we are working hard every second of every practice to reach that common goal to win! It has been quite the ride!

This month we also had our Bulls Madness event where the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams participated in events such as the three point competition, knockout, shooting and a dunk contest. It was a great way to kick off our season with our fans. The best part about the whole night was when Coach Mac rapped for the crowd with Ephesia Holmes laying down the beat behind her. It was inspirational and the fact that she did that got us all excited! After we signed autographs for the fans and got to meet some of the faces that we will see in the stands this season.

Practices have been extremely intense!! I have the most respect for the seniors on this year’s team (Kourtney Brown, Jessica Fortman, Bridgette Kendricks, and Ashley Zuber). Each and every one of them has contributed an immense amount of their time and sweat into becoming better basketball players and bringing this team together. Kourtney is the hardest working person I have ever met and to be able to learn from her each practice has helped me personally become a better basketball player. Jessica Fortman will always have her teammates back on and off the court. The way she communicates on the court makes it so much easier for us all to play as one. Jessica also happens to be my mentor so she helped me a lot with my adjustment to college and balancing basketball and academics. Bridgette is an amazing defender! In practice she frustrates the offense with her speed and quick hands. She works extremely hard as well and I am excited to watch her pick a part opposing teams’ offense this season. Zuber is a great leader as well and she has helped Margeaux become a better basketball player with the pressure she puts on her each day at practice. Every day she works extremely hard and leads by example. All of them have brought our team to where it is right now. Our team is going to do big things this season and I believe that the seniors will lead us to victory!

As you may know our home opener will be on November 12th at 7pm in the Alumni Arena. This is going to be a season to remember because we believe in our talents, hard work, and each other to become victorious!!!

Sharkey #25 ('14)

Bulls Madness - WBB Warmup

2010-10-28T11:11:00.003-04:00

Bulls Madness - WBB Knockout

2010-10-28T11:11:00.001-04:00

Bulls Madness - Hopkins For 3... Well 13!

2010-10-28T11:11:00.000-04:00

UB Getting Dirty!!

2010-10-20T14:42:00.005-04:00

Most people see a Sunday as a day of rest, but not UB women’s basketball! We ventured down to our south campus in downtown Buffalo and participated in UB Getting Dirty. We picked up fast food wrappers and pop cans among other things at a local park and along Main Street. They called us human vacuums by the end of the afternoon when we came back with four full bags of trash. We managed to stay reasonably clean under the circumstances thankfully. Needless to say, it was quite the team bonding experience.

~Beth Christensen #42 ('12)

Canadian Thanksgiving...Sharing is Caring!

2010-10-18T15:36:00.003-04:00

Check out what Jess Fortman ('11) had to say about the recent Canadian Thanksgiving Holiday...

We love our Canadian teammates, Teresa Semalulu and Brittany Hedderson, because of their great personalities and the strengths they bring to the court; however, around this time of year we are most thankful for them bringing Canadian Thanksgiving here to America! On Monday, October 11 after a hard practice, we came together as a team to celebrate the holiday and bring a little piece of Canada to Buffalo. Unfortunately, Teresa had class and was not able to attend the festivities, but luckily Britt was there to eat enough for both Canadians to feel full! The rest of the team and coaches also filled up on turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and other Thanksgiving favorites. We even managed to save some food for our teammates that couldn’t attend. Canadian decorations, compliments of Paja, adorned the walls of the conference room we gathered in. We had a lot of fun and were blessed to have another opportunity in the year to take time to remember how thankful we are for each other, our families and friends, and all of the blessings that fill our lives. Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

Entry #2: September to Remember!

2010-10-07T13:05:00.002-04:00

The month of September has been extremely eventful! We got to attend Fall Fest 2010, where artists such as Bruno Mars, B.o.B, and Jason Mraz performed!! It was quite the experience. There were hundreds of students and faculty members there and it was a great UB atmosphere. Everyone had a great time, especially Coach Hill and Paja because we saw them hitting some sick dance moves………

Since I have been in Buffalo, there had to be a time where I go and visit Niagara Falls. A few teammates and I ventured over to Niagara to get a glimpse of these powerful falls two weekends ago. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. No wonder it is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Being next to the falls was truly empowering and it made me realize how amazing nature really is. There is a tour called the Maid of the Mist and if you are unfamiliar with what that is, it is a boat tour that takes you down right near the falls. You get drenched from the mist of the falls and get be up close to the raging waters. It was my first time on this tour so I was personally kind of scared, but I got over it and had a blast!! We got sprayed with water and laughed and had fun. What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon? I can honestly say that it was one of the coolest things I have ever done. It was a great way to get our minds ready for the next couple weeks of hard studying for our first exams.

We are well into our semester now and last week we finished our first exams as college students. It was hectic and there was a lot of information to remember. Being the persistent athletes that we are, we were able to use that drive and study the information we needed to come out of the exams winners. It was not easy though. Rachel, Margeaux and I spent accumulatively about five hours each day studying for the exams. It was time consuming but the results made it worth it!! After the week of me and Rachel’s psychology exam we spent the weekend at her house in Olean New York.

Olean New York is my favorite place besides Buffalo. Rachel’s family is so welcoming and it is like a home away from home for me. Mr. and Mrs. Bantelman and their entire family opened their house to me and Margeaux with open arms. I had a great time there!!! Being from a much larger town than Olean, it was quite different from where I am from. I am from a town that is hectic and always fast paced. In Olean everyone knew each other and things moved at a much relaxed pace. I’m pretty sure I fell in love with the small town lifestyle. Thank you Bantelman family for the great weekend!

Over the last few weeks I have really made tons of great friends here in Buffalo. Rachel, Margeaux and I feel as if we are family with this team already. I am so happy to be in Buffalo and I could not ask for anything more. Adjusting to college life was so easy because of the upper classmen and being a part of this team is truly something special.

Go Bulls!!!

Sharkey

Entry #1: Officially Full-Time UB Student-Athletes!

2010-09-07T16:50:00.004-04:00

Kristen Sharkey, one of our three new Bulls, will be blogging throughout the '10-'11 season. This 6'1" post player from Manahawkin, NJ will keep us all in "the know". Her first blog of the year is below...

The 2010 summer for us was one of the most fun, challenging, and preparing summers of our lives. The upperclassmen made us feel at home and like we have been a part of the team for more than just a few weeks. It is sad to see it as a part of our past but now we are ready and focused to begin what is going to be the best four years of our lives.

On August 26th, Rachel, Margeaux, and I were extremely eager to be back on campus. It has been our childhood dreams to one day become division one basketball players and to be at this point in our lives is extremely exciting! We are being given the opportunity to take our athletic abilities to the next level while being trained in a profession at the university level. Arriving on move-in day was extremely exciting, overwhelming, and memorable to say the least. I could not wait to be back and see my best friends! Unpacking took a couple of hours and still until this day my things are everywhere. We all could not wait to see the friends we made over the summer and begin working out to begin our long road to our first season as college athletes.

The next couple of days were filled with orientations and getting accustomed to how our new lives were going to be played out. That Saturday, August 28th, we had a team building activity at Coach Mac’s house. It was very fun and we got to see just how competitive the team is. Margeaux, being from Los Angeles California was the funniest person in the woods. Everyone has heard the song “California Girls” by Katy Perry, and let’s just say that she is for sure a California girl. The objective of the game was to see how we set up roles within our team and how important it was for everyone on the team to know their role and perform it to the best of their ability. After the activity we enjoyed a great meal and s’mores by the fire. It was definitely a great day!

Sunday night came around and we had to get serious because come Monday morning at 5 am we were getting ready for lift and our first day of classes. For me the first couple of days were definitely overwhelming. Compared to the summer there is so many more people so I had to adjust to my new surroundings, but I had my teammates to help me out so it was no biggie. Classes this week were basically going over the syllabus and reviewing material so it was typically easy. In the evenings we play pick up as a team and it is a great way for us freshmen to see how we fit in with the team and to see what roles we play on the court.

The events that UB holds are amazing! We got to enjoy a pep rally and Kid Cudi on Tuesday night. Later that week on Thursday night we got to experience our first college football game where the Buffalo Bulls obliterated Rhode Island. Rachel and I even took a trip to Niagara University Wednesday night to watch our volleyball friends! Friday I went to two more volleyball matches and had a great time!! The University at Buffalo is a great place and the people here are even greater!! I feel like this is my home already. It has only been a week, but I’m proud to say I’m a Buffalo Bull!

Welcome Back!

2010-08-31T14:49:00.026-04:00

The team headed over to Coach Mac's house this past Saturday for some team bonding. The day began with an orienteering activity (navigation activity where you use a compass and map to get from point to point in an unfamiliar place). In order for the players to navigate, they needed a course - that is where the coaches came in...4 courses were plotted - with clues, paint, brushes, and compasses ready, we were off and running...

The teams were set, directions were given, compasses were handed out, a practice round took place, and the players were now off and running...

The courses were challenging- there were hills to climb, branches to dodge, and horse manure to get around. In less than an hour, the first group made it back to home base. And, without further ado, the winners were the Pink team - Kourtney Brown, Beth Christensen, Ephesia Holmes, and Kristen Sharkey...

Stay tuned for more Welcome Back blogs - one of our new freshman, Kristen Sharkey, will be keeping you all in the loop...

MAC Schedule is Released!

2010-08-26T07:52:00.002-04:00

Earlier this week, the Mid-American conference released our 2010-2011 basketball schedule. As always, we will play the east side schools twice (home & away) and the west side schools once. See below for the MAC schedule and go to http://www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/womensbasketball/news/wbb08-23-2010-schedule.shtml for the full press release...

January
Wednesday 1/5 @ Akron, 7pm
Saturday 1/8 vs. Kent State (DH), TBA
Wednesday 1/12 @ Miami (OH), 7pm
Saturday 1/15 @ Ohio, TBA
Tuesday 1/18 vs. Bowling Green, 7pm
Saturday 1/22 @ Toledo, TBA
Wednesday 1/26 @ Central Michigan, 12pm
Saturday 1/29 vs. Ball State (DH), TBA

February
Thursday 2/3 vs. Western Michigan, 7pm
Saturday 2/5 @ Eastern Michigan, TBA
Saturday 2/12 vs. Northern Illinois, 7pm
Wednesday 2/16 vs. Akron, 7pm
Saturday 2/19 @ Kent State, TBA
Wednesday 2/23 vs. Miami (OH), 7pm
Saturday 2/26 vs. Ohio, 7pm

March
Wednesday 3/3 @ Bowling Green, 7pm
Saturday 3/5 MAC Tournament - 1st Round (Campus Sites)
3/9-12 MAC Tournament (Cleveland, OH)

GO BULLS!!!

2010-2011 Non-Conference Schedule

2010-08-23T08:28:00.004-04:00

A new post has been long overdue - our coaches have been busy recruiting and the players completed a hectic summer filled with classes, work-outs, camps, work and so on...Our freshmen arrive back on campus this Thursday (August 26th) and school starts up on Monday August 30th!

We are gearing up for another exciting season. Our pre-season starts on Tuesday September 7th and we will begin to prepare our minds, bodies, and spirits for our home opener on Friday November 12th vs. Howard @ 7pm. See below for our 2010-2011 non-conference schedule...

November
Friday 11/12 vs. Howard, TBA
Monday 11/15 vs. Cleveland State, 7pm
Friday 11/19 @ Temple, 7pm
Sunday 11/21 @ Bucknell, TBA
Friday - Saturday 11/26-11/27 @ Cancun Tournament

December
Wednesday 12/1 @ Canisius, 7pm
Monday 12/6 vs. Duquesne, 7pm
Friday 12/10 vs. St. Bonaventure, 7pm
Tuesday 12/21 vs. Niagara, 7pm
Wednesday - Thursday 12/29-12/30 @ Leigh Tournament

January
Sunday 1/2 @ Brown, TBA

Stay tuned for our conference schedule...We hope to see you at a game!

Throwing the "Toothpick"!

2010-05-18T14:15:00.004-04:00

Brittany Hedderson competed in the javelin competition in the MAC Championships on Thursday May 13th at UB's campus. Britt was stepping in for UB's javelin thrower, who is currently injuried. After three weeks of training, she placed fourth out of 16 entrants with a throw of 131-10 (40.18m) and earned the team five points. Pretty impressive for a basketball player with only three weeks training in javelin (...although she did throw in high school- that muscle memory worked well)! Britt plans on bettering her throw next year, such a competitor!

Wrapping Up 09-10

2010-05-10T12:41:00.004-04:00

On April 21, 2010, we wrapped up our season at Dave & Buster's with some good eats and team awards...The award winners are listed below:

Kourtney Brown - Most Valuable Player & Defensive Player

Brittany Hedderson - Most Improved Player

Teresa Semalulu - Academic Award

Nicki Hopkins - Bulls' Pride Award

Noodle Ball

2010-04-21T09:29:00.011-04:00

You ask, what is Noodle Ball? Answer=baseball/softball with a noodle bat...Same rules as baseball/softball, but you hit the ball with a "noodle" (...towels wrapped with duct tape). Long story short, the bat is very floppy...Coach Mac's team master the art of Noodle Ball and came away with the "W"!

Post Season Fun!

2010-04-08T15:00:00.004-04:00

The coaches and players had an intersquad dodgeball match. We made sure the teams were even with an equal number of throwers, catchers, and dodgers on each team. The match was decided by the best out of 3. The score was 2-1...and, the winners were...you can tell by the pictures!

Pink Zone!

2010-02-15T12:14:00.006-05:00

The UB women's basketball team participated in the national WBCA Pink Zone week on Saturday February 13th. Our team in their pink uniforms drew more than 2,000 fans, as well as raised more than $2,000 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. The team spent the past week selling pink ribbons and asking people to sponsor them per shot made (...or a flat amount) during a free throw shoot-out (each player took 50 free throws). At game time, the team had raised $2,400! Good work, ladies, and thank you to everyone who showed their support...

Did You Know?

2010-02-12T12:02:00.004-05:00

...Kourtney Brown was named MAC East Player of the Week for the 4th time this season!

...The UB team takes on Akron tomorrow (2/13/10) at 3pm during their annual Pink Zone game. Come out and support the team and fight against breast cancer!

The 2nd Annual Bubble Blowing Contest...

2010-01-28T10:20:00.019-05:00

Rules:

1. There are 3 rounds - 1st round: Players sit with their class. Each player gets three attempts to blow the biggest bubble. Two class representatives will be sent to the second round. (Pictures 1-5) 2nd round: Players will have 3 attempts to blow the biggest bubble. 4 players will move to the final round. (Picture 6) Final round: Again, players will have three attempts to blow the biggest bubble. (Picture 7-9)

Nicki Hopkins #5 wraps up the annual bubble blowing contest below...

Another team bonding activity along the lines of childhood was the surprise Dubble Bubble gum bubble blowing contest. When coach called a surprise meeting, I knew I was not the only one who was a little on the nervous side. However, once a challenge was put before us all, our nerves quickly subsided as we all put our "game faces" on. Even though this contest was new for the freshmen class, collectively we stepped up and advanced two "freshies" to the championship round, where Chrissy Cooper was victorious, although Coach Mac gave everyone a run for their money through her single attempt. Overall, I would say the creativity of our team activities continues to rise and keep us all entertained. This experience definitely made us think since we had to strategize about the number of pieces of Dubble Bubble that would create the ultimate bubble. While some chose several pieces, others chose only one or two. It just comes to show that you should never bite off more than you can chew!

Play-Doh Scout!

2010-01-26T12:19:00.004-05:00

When one thinks of his or her childhood, many times a plethora of toys and games come to mind. One popular pastime of our generation was the constructing of Play-Doh creations. Who would have thought that even at the college level playing with Play-Doh could still be so exhilarating. Our coaches had the creative idea that we could lighten up the mood of a pre-game scout with Play-Doh figurines of the opposing players. Our young inventive minds came up with such things as cubes for key players to box-out, miniature cars for important drivers, and bandannas and guns symbolizing those players who get a lot of steals. This enjoyable and still very meaningful activity brought back bittersweet childhood memories that assisted us in remembering the opposition's key personnel. So whether you are a young calf or an old bull, just remember, there is always an opportunity to conjure up the child in you!

~Nicki Hopkins #5

Brown Receives Her 1000th Point Ball

2010-01-25T18:52:00.003-05:00

Coach MacDonald presented Kourtney Brown with her 1000th point ball on Saturday January 16th. Brown accepted her ball in front of her very own Bulls' fans before our Ohio game. That same day our team picked up our first '09-'10 MAC victory - it was a day to celebrate! Again Kourt, congrats!

Brown Reaches 1000!

2010-01-11T23:30:00.007-05:00

Saturday January 9th at Akron - Kourtney Brown netted her 1000th career point from the free throw line! She is the second fastest player in school history to hit the 1000 point mark. Congrats Kourt - the Buffalo WBB family is proud of you!

Read the full story at the link below... http://www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/womensbasketball/news/wbb01-09-2010-akron.shtml

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-21T22:43:00.002-05:00

We wish everyone a happy & healthy holiday season!

A Turkey Day Story

2009-12-04T17:19:00.009-05:00

Our team put on a turkey day skit at the UMaine tournament. It was a hit, to say the least! The story teller, Abby Dowd, filled everyone in on the traditions of Thanksgiving in America and at UB while her teammates showed off their acting skills. At UB, we "spare" the perfect bull, not turkey!

Can't Come to the Game...Watch Us Play Anyway!

2009-12-03T18:19:00.005-05:00

The following list of home games will be streamed on the web (http://www.buffalobulls.com/)...

12/5 vs. Canisius
12/13 vs. Youngstown State
1/3 vs. Bucknell
1/16 vs. Ohio
1/27 vs. Toledo
2/6 vs. Central Michigan
2/24 vs. Bowling Green
3/2 vs. Kent State

GO BULLS!!!

A Warm Welcome to Two New Bulls

2009-11-19T20:54:00.017-05:00

Rachel Bantelman signs her National Letter of Intent with father, Joe, superintendent of Olean schools, Dr. Colleen Taggerty, high school coach, Don Scholla, mother, Jean, AAU coach, Armando Toppi, and principal, Barb Lias.

Kristen signs her National Letter of Intent with her father, Patrick, and mother, Patricia. (above)

Kristen with her high school coach, Kathy Synder.

Both Rachel and Kristen became official UB Bulls when they signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday November 11th, 2009. They will join our team during the '10-'11 season.

Rachel, a versatile player, who can play the 3 and 4, is from Olean, NY. She is this coaching staff's first New York signee. Rachel will assist in bringing in more NY recruits, as she already bleeds blue. When not on the court, Rachel is competing in the pool. We know that she will help our team on the court and during those pre-season pool work-outs!

Kristen, a physical post player, who can face and play with her back to the basket, is from Manahawkin, NJ. She has a knack for scoring and rebounding the basketball. Kristen can be found catching the waves on the Jersey Shore when she is not on the hardwood. The coaching staff will be first in line for surfing lessons!

Welcome, ladies...We are excited that you have chosen to be UB Bulls!

To read Rachel and Kristen's press release, click on the link below:

http://www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/womensbasketball/news/wbb11-12-2009-NLI.shtml

Mark Your Calendars!

2009-11-12T13:22:00.006-05:00

University at Buffalo vs. Canisius College
Saturday December 5th at 4:00PM

See this cross town rivalry LIVE...

Time Warner will be televising our game. Locally, tune in to Channel 13 and if you're not local, the game will be streamed on http://www.buffalobulls.com/.

The Bulls Reach Out

2009-10-27T13:41:00.012-04:00

The Bulls Take Part in WNY Girls in Sports Day at Ralph Wilson Stadium...

The Bulls Head to Local Schools...

On the 22nd of October the team spent the day volunteering at various schools around the Buffalo area. I was designated to Coach Hill’s group, along with Kourtney, Amy, Abby, Chrissy and Dayna. We spent a few hours at Heim Elementary. Most of the kids were in Kindergarten and first grade so it was pretty amusing.

The most entertaining thing was to watch Coach Hill interact with the children. Before we began, Coach Hill ran (in slow motion) to the balls and yelled, in a child-friendly bubbly tone, “How is everyone today!” I was so shocked lol. I had to refrain from laughing because although she is friendly, I never imagined I would ever hear her speak in such a tone. This continued throughout the whole event. After each relay she would yell “Everyone! TEN CLAPS FOR THE WINNERS!!!”, then we all had clap together ten times (I hope we can start doing this in practice!). Again, I found this to be hilarious, only because I have never seen her act this way. I wish I could have gotten it on tape!

Abby was also pretty funny. When she introduced herself she spoke like a kindergarten teacher and emphasized the important points, “Hi, My name is ABBY and I am from OHIO.I am a GUARD and a FRESHMAN in school and I am EIGHTEEN…I mean NINETEEN!” I don’t know why, but I love to observe how people act when they are around children. That’s probably my favorite part about working at camps with young children, especially when the coaches are there.

The kids were also a lot of fun. Although they were young and lacked basketball skills, their willingness to participate and determination to succeed made the camp a lot of fun. We did relays, passing and defensive drills. The kids learned very fast. Some were barely able to dribble the ball, but once we made it competitive they found a way (although many have not grasped the concept of traveling yet). The kids were all very friendly and cheered each other on. Some of them were pretty funny. Coach Hill warned us to be prepared to see and hear anything and the kids did and said some pretty random things.

In all, the camp was more than just basketball skills training; it was an opportunity for the kids to be introduced to something positive that they can do on their own or in a group. Children are very observant therefore positive role models are important to shape who they will become in the future. Hopefully our interactions with these children, and others in the future, will push them towards not only sports but positive thinking as well.

~Teresa Semalulu #22

Canadian Thanksgiving and Much More...

2009-10-14T23:03:00.010-04:00

Upon coming to Buffalo we did not realize how many significant differences there are between Canada and the Untied States. Among those differences are the date and tradition behind the Thanksgiving holiday. Here we have learned that it is a celebration of the Pilgrims and “The New World”. However, in Canada it originated as a bountiful harvest in preparation for the winter. Both holidays have evolved over time to symbolize many things. Most importantly it has become a day for families to join together to reflect on what they are grateful for.

On the second Monday of October it is a disappointment that we are not at home with our families. This is a reminder that not only are we away from home, but we are in a country with different customs and traditions.

The great thing about our team is that, although us Canadian’s are the minority, our culture is embraced. We celebrate the Canadian Thanksgiving and our team always wishes us a Happy Canada Day! Since we have been here it has been the second time our team has embraced this Canadian holiday (and the second time we ate first J ). We joined in the very “Canadianly” decorated conference room (Thanks to Paja). We ate amazing turkey and “fixins” (As Coach Mac would say), and as we do with our families, enjoyed spending time with each other.

One thing we have come to realize is that not only do our differences distinguish us, but they also bring us together. Since, as a team, we celebrate Canadian and American holidays it is very hard to feel homesick here, at our second home with our second family, at the University at Buffalo. Go Bulls!

This Thanksgiving we are thankful for the food that was made to unite us together as a family here at UB.

If you are Canadian and looking to come to UB, here are a few things to take a look at:
You will…
Become instant friends with any Canadians on Campus (bonus if they’re teachers!)
Smile every time you spot a Canadian flag or license plate
Be ridiculed every time you use the word “eh” (I know right)
Go home and realize how much Canadians do say “eh” (and when you come back you’ll realize how much Americans say “y’all”)
Need to create an Aim account because they don’t use MSN here (even though it’s better lol)

You will also experience the following deprivations:

CFL, OHL and love for Steve Nash
Canadian Programming (Degrassi, Art Attack, Reboot, YTV, CBC and CTV)
And the following delicacies; Mars Bars, Ketchup and All dressed chips, non-caffeinated Mountain Dew, Shawarmas, Rockets not Smarties (Smarties are chocolate not candy! Google it), Bagged Milk (It’s cheaper and more economic!)

Some things you’ll never get:

Miles vs. Kilometers (using the “officer I didn’t know the difference” trick only works once)
Temperature in Fahrenheit rather than Degrees (45 doesn’t mean it’s time to go to the beach!)
The Canadian vs. the American Dollar (Denny’s never gives you a fair exchange rate)
If you miss your off ramp on the highway, you will be driving for miles (kilometers?)
Peoples accents (In the south they speak a whole other language)
And Coach Mac’s watch must measure in American time (because I know it takes longer than 30 seconds to sing either of our anthems, which is about the time it takes for us to do the 30 second “L and I” drill.)

Last but not least, this is an example of American humor (courtesy of freshie Abby):
Why is a turkey such a good band member?
Because they always have their drumsticks on them! (haha…not!)
Well, time to sign off eh?

Your two favorite Canadians,
Brittany Hedderson #23 and Teresa Semalulu #22

P.S. Canadian Birthdays are huge and involve lots of gifts and cake…keep that in mind Coach ;)

Triple Gym is Open!

2009-10-13T12:29:00.007-04:00

Here at UB, we know about the old adage, "It will be worth the wait"! This summer no one had access to the triple gym because it was undergoing renovations. Our players were forced to find alternate facilities in which to do their off-season workouts and play pick-up. At times that was frustrating - especially when the main gym was also not available because of camps and special events. It seemed like the weeks were dragging by once classes resumed and we still had to find an alternate space in which to do our pre-season conditioning and skills sessions.

In mid-September, the renovations were completed and the doors were opened. We walked into a brand new look to our official practice space. Thank you to Warde Manuel for his vision of creating a practice facility with the feel of the Alumni Arena! The center court is identical to the one on which we play our games. The three separate courts all have their own scoreboard and clock and new backboards and baskets. The lighting and fresh paint, the new sound system and visual center have added to this incredible state of the art facility. It was DEFINITELY worth the wait!

~Linda Hill-MacDonald, Head Coach

The Bulls Mix It Up!

2009-09-17T09:33:00.006-04:00

Pre-season workout on the MAC Champion football field

The Bulls sweat it out during a pre-season pool workout

It's that time of year again! With the start of school came the start of preseason workouts. While most students were excited to wear their new back-to-school outfits, our team eagerly put on our new practice gear and shoes. It's a great feeling to finally have started after we have been working so hard all summer long. Tuesday was the first time where the whole team and the coaches were allowed to be on the court at the same time. We all seemed to be focused and ready and really made the most of our time on the court.

In the few weeks before we were allowed to practice as a whole team, we worked in smaller groups to perfect our skills and learn team concepts. Although I worked mostly as a post, I even got to show off some of my guard skills! In each workout, I feel as if I learned something new.

Our workouts have not been exclusively on the court, however, as both the coaches and our strength coach, Ed, have found new and interesting ways to prepare us for the season. For the first time since I have been at UB, we went to the swimming pool and did a workout when we were unable to get in the gym. We had a blast while still feeling like we got something accomplished. In the weight room, we've had several "fun" days (as Ed likes to call them), which certainly make walking up stairs a challenging task the following day. All of the sweat, swimming, and soreness will certainly be worth it when we come to official practice better prepared than ever and as we gear up for the new season!

~Jessica Fortman #34

Community Service

2009-08-12T11:47:00.005-04:00

Beth smiles for the camera

Chrissy & Nytor sport their globe necklaces

Bridgette & Jessica show off their craft skills

Nicki & Abby are up to no good... :)

Summer in Buffalo gave our team a chance to work on our skills, lift some weights, and take summer classes, but we also found the time to volunteer. This summer we visited basketball camps, ran drills at the YMCA, gave campus tours, and helped out at the zoo among other events. Working the local basketball camps at places like the nearby YMCA and in Eden, NY allowed us to show off our new and improved skills while sending a message to the kids about determination, perseverance, and hard work.

Going to the zoo was one of the highlights of my summer. As part of the Party for the Planet, we got to do arts and crafts with the kids and enjoy a beautiful summer day in the process. It was definitely a perfect summer day.

Filling up our days with community service made this summer so much more fun because we were able to give back to the community. Meeting all of the rambunctious tikes made us that much more excited for the upcoming season and hopefully added some fans to the stands.

~Beth Christensen #42