Dec. 3, 2005
Final Stats | Quotes
ATHENS, Ohio - Despite clawing back to take a lead in the second half, the Ohio women's basketball team was tripped up Saturday in the Convocation Center, 69-59, by Western Illinois in non-conference action.
Simone Redd (Warrensville Heights, Ohio) scored 15 of her game-high 18 points in the second half, leading a Bobcat (1-5) charge that resulted in a one-point advantage, 42-41, with 13:07 remaining in the game. The Westerwinds (5-1) took the lead back one minute later and never lost it again. Western Illinois outscored the Bobcats 16-7 down the stretch and held on to pick up the road victory.
Ohio went scoreless on its first five possessions, but the Bobcats picked up the slack and took their first lead of the game, 17-15, on the strength of a Katie Reihmann (Marengo, Iowa) jumper at the 8:23 mark. Ohio took its largest lead of the game--four points--with 7:49 left in the half. A back-and-forth affair went Western Illinois' way in the first half, as the Westerwinds carried a slim one-point margin, 25-24, into the locker room.
Rachel Frederick (Gibsonia, Pa.) scored six of Ohio's first 11 points and led the Cats with six points at the break. Redd had five boards in the first half, and Quintana Ward (Park Forest, Ill.) recorded four assists. The Bobcats shot 35.7 percent (10-28) from the floor in the half and outrebounded the Westerwinds 24-18.
Western Illinois was paced by six first-half points from Laura Reeves.
Out of intermission, Redd came to life on the offensive end. The sophomore scored seven of Ohio's first 10 points to start the half and lifted the Bobcats to a two-point lead, 34-34, with a three-pointer at the 16:56 mark. After that, Frederick took her turn on the offensive end, scoring eight-straight Bobcat points between the 14:09 and 13:07 marks in the half.
Both teams traded shots throughout the half, with the game tied for the last time with 13:41 left to play. The Westerwinds used a 10-2 run from 12:01 to 5:47 to extend its largest lead of the game at 53-44.
It wasn't until closing minutes that Western Illinois finally pulled away, converting eight free throws in the final 57 seconds to hold on for the win.
Redd finished with a season-high 18 points and Ward topped a career best with eight assists. Frederick dropped 14 with four boards and two assists.
Ohio shot 37 percent (20-54) from the floor for the game and 29.4 percent (5-17) from behind the arc. The Bobcats converted 14-of-21 free-throw attempts. Ohio committed just 12 turnovers and won the rebound battle, 37-34.
Western Illinois was paced by three players in double figures. Reeves led with 14, while Samantha Greer and Zane Teilane chipped in 13 apiece. Teilane recorded a double-double with 10 boards to go with four assists and four blocks.
Next up for Ohio is a Dec. 12 date with Chicago State at 1 p.m. in The Convo.
