UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO ATHLETICS
BUFFALO, N.Y — After the most successful season on the court in program history, the University at Buffalo women’s basketball team saw the accolades pile up off the court as a program record seven UB student-athletes earned a spot on the Academic All-MAC team, as announced by the conference on Thursday morning. The seven recipients are the most in school history as the old program record of four was set last season.
Earning the recognition for the third straight year were seniors Liisa Ups, Katherine Ups and Mariah Suchan while Ayoleka Sodade was honored for the second time in her career and Cierra Dillard, Theresa Onwuka and Cassie Oursler each earned the recognition for the first time in their UB careers.
As a team, the Bowling Green Falcons, Miami RedHawks and Northern Illinois Huskies all placed a MAC-best eight student-athletes on this year’s team, while UB followed close behind with seven honorees. A total of 61 student-athletes were named to the 2018 squad.
Katherine Ups, a biomedical sciences major with a 3.923 GPA, was honored for the third straight season. The senior leader wrapped up her most successful season on the court for UB this year as she was able to start 34 games while averaging 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists across an average of 24.3 minutes/games. Ups was also placed on the CoSIDA Academic All-Region first team earlier this season for the first time in her Buffalo career.
A biomedical sciences major with a 3.896 GPA, Liisa Ups was placed on the squad for her third straight seasons. The senior closed out her Buffalo career playing in 22 games while earning two starts for UB during their historic 29-win season and Sweet 16 run. Over her successful UB career, Ups appeared in 96 games while starting 19 games for the Bulls.
Suchan, a biomedical sciences major with a 3.599 GPA, picked up her third straight Academic All-MAC honor, joining the Ups twins and Kourtney Brown as the lone three-time members of the squad in program history. Suchan played a major role off the bench for the Bulls as she appeared in all 35 games while earning seven starts as a senior. She finished off her final season averaging 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds while helping UB collect their first ever NCAA Tournament wins and Sweet 16 appearance.
A social sciences major with a 3.498 GPA, Ayoleka Sodade earned Academic All-MAC honors for the second straight season. The Windsor, Ontario native appeared in 19 games during her junior campaign as the Bulls collected a program record 29 wins on the year.
A communication major with a 3.368 GPA, Cierra Dillard earned the Academic All-MAC recognition for the first time as a Bull. The Rochester native put together a fantastic season on the court as she helped lead Buffalo to the Sweet 16 while averaging 29.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.3 steals across three NCAA Tournament games. In the opening round victory over #6 South Florida, Dillard went off for a MAC record 36 points while connecting on seven three pointers, the third most points scored in a game by a single player in UB history. On the year, Dillard averaged a team-best 16.2 points, 5.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 3.0 steals while setting the school record with 105 steals.
Earning the recognition for the first time in her Buffalo career, Cassie Oursler is an educational studies graduate student with a 3.335 GPA. The senior finished off her most successful season on the court this season as she ranked second on the team averaging 12.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks while shooting 49.7% from the floor and 82.1% from the charity stripe. The Grand Island native closed out her UB career with eight double-doubles and five games of 20+ points. She also ranks fifth in school history with 147 career blocks, sixth in school history in field goal percentage (48.8%) and ninth in free throw percentage (74.4%).
Theresa Onwuka, a nursing major with a 3.835 GPA, earned the academic recognition for the first time in her UB career. The sophomore was a key member of the UB bench across their historic 2017-18 campaign as she appeared in 32 games. She finished the season averaging 9.6 minutes, 2.3 points and 2.2 rebounds while also notching 17 assists and 14 steals.
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport.
AkronAlyssa Clay, Sophomore, 3.517, Exercise Physiology/Pre-Physical Therapy
Shayna Harmon, Sophomore, 3.223, Sport Management
Megan Sefcik, R-Junior, 3.728, Early Childhood Education
Caitlin Vari, Sophomore, 3.827, Marketing Management
Shayna Harmon, Sophomore, 3.223, Sport Management
Megan Sefcik, R-Junior, 3.728, Early Childhood Education
Caitlin Vari, Sophomore, 3.827, Marketing Management
Ball StateCarmen Grande, Junior, 3.98, Mathematical Sciences
Jasmin Samz, Junior, 3.360, Exercise Science
Jasmin Samz, Junior, 3.360, Exercise Science
Bowling GreenAndrea Cecil, Sophomore, 3.36, Exercise Science
Maddie Cole, Junior, 3.649, International Business
Clare Glowniak, Sophomore, 3.904, Biology
Rachel Myers, Senior, 4.00, Dietetics
Haley Puk, Senior, 3.592, Exercise Science
Carly Santoro, Junior, 3.843, Communication Disorders
Caterrion Thompson, Sophomore, 3.20, Sport Management
Jane Uecker, Sophomore, 3.657, Business
Maddie Cole, Junior, 3.649, International Business
Clare Glowniak, Sophomore, 3.904, Biology
Rachel Myers, Senior, 4.00, Dietetics
Haley Puk, Senior, 3.592, Exercise Science
Carly Santoro, Junior, 3.843, Communication Disorders
Caterrion Thompson, Sophomore, 3.20, Sport Management
Jane Uecker, Sophomore, 3.657, Business
BuffaloKatherine Ups, Senior, 3.923, Biomedical Sciences
Liisa Ups, Senior, 3.896, Biomedical Sciences
Ayoleka Sodade, Junior, 3.498, Social Sciences
Mariah Suchan, Senior, 3.599, Biomedical Sciences
Cierra Dillard, Junior, 3.368, Communications
Theresa Onwuka, Sophomore, 3.835, Nursing
Cassie Oursler, Senior, 3.335, Education Studies
Liisa Ups, Senior, 3.896, Biomedical Sciences
Ayoleka Sodade, Junior, 3.498, Social Sciences
Mariah Suchan, Senior, 3.599, Biomedical Sciences
Cierra Dillard, Junior, 3.368, Communications
Theresa Onwuka, Sophomore, 3.835, Nursing
Cassie Oursler, Senior, 3.335, Education Studies
Central MichiganCassie Breen, Senior, 3.61, Psychology
Reyna Frost, Junior, 3.74, Physics
Presley Hudson, Junior, 3.7, Physical Activity Specialist
Aleah Swary, Senior, 3.36, Psychology
Reyna Frost, Junior, 3.74, Physics
Presley Hudson, Junior, 3.7, Physical Activity Specialist
Aleah Swary, Senior, 3.36, Psychology
Eastern MichiganNailah Mitchell, Sophomore, 3.28, Sport management
Kent StateZenobia Bess, Redshirt Senior, 3.266, Exercise Science
Alexa Golden, Junior, 3.883, Criminal Justice
Tyra James, Redshirt Junior, 3.215, Marketing
Jordan Korinek, Senior, 4.000, Special Education
Ali Poole, Sophomore, 3.809, Biology
McKenna Stephens, Graduate, 3.330, Criminal Justice
Alexa Golden, Junior, 3.883, Criminal Justice
Tyra James, Redshirt Junior, 3.215, Marketing
Jordan Korinek, Senior, 4.000, Special Education
Ali Poole, Sophomore, 3.809, Biology
McKenna Stephens, Graduate, 3.330, Criminal Justice
MiamiKayla Brown, Senior, 3.81, Microbiology
Lauren Dickerson, Sophomore, 3.25, Interactive Media Studies
Megan Galloway, Senior, 3.53, Philosophy and Social Justice Studies
Savannah Kluesner, Sophomore, 3. 70, Marketing
Kendall McCoy, Junior, 3.60, Kinesiology
Molly McDonagh, Senior, 3.46, Strategic Communications
Leah Purvis, Sophomore, 3.27, Psychology
Baleigh Reid, R-Junior, 3.84, Kinesiology
Lauren Dickerson, Sophomore, 3.25, Interactive Media Studies
Megan Galloway, Senior, 3.53, Philosophy and Social Justice Studies
Savannah Kluesner, Sophomore, 3. 70, Marketing
Kendall McCoy, Junior, 3.60, Kinesiology
Molly McDonagh, Senior, 3.46, Strategic Communications
Leah Purvis, Sophomore, 3.27, Psychology
Baleigh Reid, R-Junior, 3.84, Kinesiology
Northern IllinoisGeorgia Breunig, Senior, 3.963, Accountancy
Mikayla Voigt, Junior, 3.914, Nursing
Ally May, Junior, 3.836, Nursing
Abby Woollacott, Sophomore, 3.784, Undecided
Paulina Castro, Sophomore, 3.731, Undecided
Kelly Smith, Senior, 3.703, Biology
Nicole Orr, Junior, 3.447, General Studies
Courtney Woods, Junior, 3.407, Pre-Physical Therapy
Mikayla Voigt, Junior, 3.914, Nursing
Ally May, Junior, 3.836, Nursing
Abby Woollacott, Sophomore, 3.784, Undecided
Paulina Castro, Sophomore, 3.731, Undecided
Kelly Smith, Senior, 3.703, Biology
Nicole Orr, Junior, 3.447, General Studies
Courtney Woods, Junior, 3.407, Pre-Physical Therapy
OhioTaylor Agler, Senior, 3.956, Masters in Sport Management/Communication
Katie Barker, RS Sophomore, 3.329, Nursing
Dominique Doseck, Junior, 3.844, Sport Management and Business Analytics
Kendall Jessing, Junior. 3.891, Graphic Design
Katie Barker, RS Sophomore, 3.329, Nursing
Dominique Doseck, Junior, 3.844, Sport Management and Business Analytics
Kendall Jessing, Junior. 3.891, Graphic Design
ToledoJay-Ann Bravo-Harriott, Grad., 4.00, Communication
Michaela Rasmussen, Senior, 4.00, Biology & Spanish
Mariella Santucci, Sophomore, 3.22, Pre-Business
Sarah St-Fort, Grad., 3.34, Finance
Michaela Rasmussen, Senior, 4.00, Biology & Spanish
Mariella Santucci, Sophomore, 3.22, Pre-Business
Sarah St-Fort, Grad., 3.34, Finance
Western MichiganMarley Hill, R-Senior, 3.71, Educational Leadership
Meredith Miller, Junior, 3.91, Sales and Business Marketing
Kamrin Reed, Sophomore, 3.43, Recreation/Sport Management
Najee Smith, Senior, 3.26, Biomedical Sciences
Emma VanZanten, Sophomore, 3.38, Pre-Special Education
Meredith Miller, Junior, 3.91, Sales and Business Marketing
Kamrin Reed, Sophomore, 3.43, Recreation/Sport Management
Najee Smith, Senior, 3.26, Biomedical Sciences
Emma VanZanten, Sophomore, 3.38, Pre-Special Education
