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Bobcats Register 85-73 Decision Over Western Michigan
Ohio moves to 5-3 in the MAC
Contact: Shanon Strenkert
2/2/2005
 Freshman Simone Redd, who is averaging 10.2 points a game, led Ohio with 17 points. |
ATHENS, Ohio. ? The Ohio women?s basketball improved to 5-3 in Mid-American Conference play and 9-10 overall Wednesday night in the Convocation Center, with an 85-73 win over Western Michigan. Five Bobcats scored in double-digits, led by Freshman Simone Redd (Warrensville Hts., Ohio), to propel Ohio to its second win in as many games.
?We didn?t get off to a very good start in either half, and I really don?t know why that is,? commented Ohio Head Coach Lynn Bria. ?I really think our defense got everything going for us.?
Western Michigan, who entered the game on a four-game losing streak, came out of the starting blocks hot, going on an 18-5 run through the first eight minutes. Ohio would force five Bronco turnovers and hold them scoreless over the next four minutes, as the Bobcats would tie the game up, 18-18 at 8:17.
Western Michigan took a short lived three point lead, 21-18 at 7:36, off a layup by Kim Driggett and a free throw from Brittany Tyson. Freshman Lauren Revesz (Bridgeville, Pa.) layed in a basket to cut the deficit to one and Ciara Iglehart (Mission Viejo, Calif.) hit a jumper to put the Bobcats up for the first time in the half, 22-21 at 6:41.
Ohio would push its lead out to six, 27-21 with 5:47 remaining in the half, but the Bronco?s Carie Moore and Kelly Koerber would combine to even the game, 29-29 at 2:42.
The Bobcats outscored Western Michigan in the final stretch, 10-1, to take a nine point lead heading into the break, 39-30.
Western Michigan, who shot 50.0 percent from the floor, was led by Moore, who tallied 11 of her game-high 25 points in the first half, while Driggett pulled down six boards.
Ohio forced 19 first half turnovers, while coming up with 12 steals. Kristian Kirkpatrick (Costa Mesa, Calif.) registered 10 of her 14 points in the opening frame, with Erin Isbell (Gahanna, Ohio) pulling down seven first half reboards.
The Bobcats watched their nine point cushion quickly fade, as Western Michigan opened the second half with a 12-2 run to take the lead at 16:59, 42-41.
After seeing Ohio tie the score twice, the Broncos took their largest lead of the half, 48-44 at 14:23, with points coming from Koerber and Ashley Owens.
The Bobcats would cause nine turnovers in route to the largest lead of the game, 72-57, with 6:50 remaining. Western Michigan?s relentless attack would close the margin to as few as three, 74-71 at 2:22, with a 14-2 run.
Ohio would keep the Broncos at bay, pulling away in the closing minutes with an 11-2 run for the victory, 85-73.
?I think there?s room for improvement,? added Bria. ?We?ve got to do a better job of managing the lead, but overall, I thought we played a good game, offensively and defensively.?
Western Michigan, who shot 54.8 percent from the floor for the game, was hampered by a stingy Ohio defense that forced 34 turnovers. Moore led the Bronco?s attack with 25 points and nine rebounds, while Koerber contributed 19 and eight boards and Dirggett added 12. Western Michigan shot 82.8 percent from the line on 24-of-29 shooting.
The Bobcats out-rebounded Western Michigan, 36-34, with Isbell pulling down a game-high 11 to bring her career total to 684. Isbell is now only nine rebounds shy of moving into fourth on Ohio?s all-time list.
Angel Hornsburger came up with a career-high six steals to help give the Bobcats a season-high 23 swipes in the game. Hornsburger also matched a career-best with seven assists.
?I think Angel Hornsburger really uplifts our team,? noted Bria. ?She just makes such a difference in regards to pressure and she distributed the ball very well.?
Redd led the Ohio attack with 17 points, Kirkpatrick added 14, Iglehart and Revesz contributed 12 and Andrea Johnson (Columbus, Ohio) chipped in 10 to round out the Bobcats in double-digit scoring. 39 of Ohio's 85 points came off turnovers.
Ohio next travels to Bowling Green on Saturday for the MAC Game of the Week. The match-up will be televised on Fox Sports Net Ohio with tip-off slated for 2 p.m. The Bobcats will return home next Wednesday to host Marshall at 7 p.m.
