Feb. 15, 2006

Final Stats

KENT, Ohio - Ohio took a late second-half lead and managed to push one of the league's best teams to overtime, but playing with just four players in the final minute and a half of the extra period, the Bobcats fell 73-66 to Kent State Wednesday in the M.A.C. Center.

After trailing by just four at the break, the Bobcats clawed back into the game in the second half, taking a lead with 1:16 left. Ohio (7-16, 4-8 Mid-American Conference) allowed a free throw on the other end, but didn't give the Golden Flashes another inch, forcing an overtime period.

Ohio never led in overtime, but hung close throughout. Less than four minutes into the extra frame, Ohio's fourth player of the night picked up her fifth and final foul. Starting the game with just eight active players, the Bobcats used four players in the final 1:28 of the game, but didn't let up. Over that stretch, Ohio matched Kent State 8-8 on the scoreboard. The Bobcats could not, however, overcome the deficit and fell to the Golden Flashes (16-7, 9-3 MAC), who clinched a first-round bye in the upcoming MAC Tournament.

"I thought we had some chances in regulation to win it," said Ohio Head Coach Lynn Bria. "I felt our defense was outstanding tonight. We played them very tough, and executed our game plan well."

Domenica Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil) led the Cats on the offensive end, registering her first-career double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Silva was 7-of-14 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the line.

"Domenica played very well," Bria said. "I thought she really played within herself. She did a lot for us."

Two other Bobcats recorded double figures in scoring on the night. Rachel Frederick (Gibsonia, Pa.) struggled from the field, but picked up the slack at the stripe, knocking down 11-of-13 free-throw tries for 13 points. Playing all 45 minutes, Quintana Ward (Park Forest, Ill.) notched 11 points with four assists and a 6-of-6 effort from the line. As a team, Ohio, the league's best free-throw shooting team, hit 28-of-35 tries (80 percent) from the charity stripe. Lauren Hmiel (York, Pa.) pulled down a career-best eight rebounds.

Lindsay Shearer paced Kent State with 25 points and nine rebounds, including a 12-of-14 effort from the free-throw line. Like Ohio, the Golden Flashes were proficient from the line, hitting 83.3 percent (25-30), including 11-of-13 in the overtime period. Sarah Burgess hit three shots from behind the arc to come off the bench and contribute 10 points and nine boards.

The lead swapped hands several times in the first half, with neither team making a convincing run. Ohio led by as many as six in the first four minutes, but Kent State hung around, snatching the lead back and leading by as many as four. The game was tied at 24 with 4:15 left, but the Golden Flashes went to intermission up four, 31-27.

For the half, Ohio shot 30.4 percent (7-23) from the field and 85.7 percent (12-14) from the free-throw line. Kent State countered with a 34.4 mark (11-32) from the field and a 75 percent effort (6-8) from the line. Ohio hit one three in the first half, Kent State knocked down three.

Out of the locker room, the script remained much the same as the first half. Ohio regained the lead early, relinquished it for much of the half, then went on to pick it back up around the eight-minute mark. Trailing by a couple late in the game, Silva knocked down a jumper with 1:16 left to take one-point lead. Kent State responded with a free-throw to tie it and eventually send it to overtime.

Kent State scored six-straight to open up the extra frame via a pair of Sarah Burgess three-pointers and never looked back. With Frederick and Lauren Revesz (Bridgeville, Pa.) already fouled out and now down to six active players, Ciara Iglehart picked up her fifth at the 1:01 mark. Silva got number five with 1:28 left on the clock, leaving Ohio to play out the string with four players.

"I really felt that we played tough, played well together tonight," Bria said. "Especially to come this building where they haven't lost too many games. We played very, very well."

Ohio is set to stay on the road this weekend for a rematch with Miami. The Bobcats and RedHawks are set to tangle at 2 p.m. Saturday in Millett Hall.