Jan. 3, 2007
Box Score | Quotes
KENT, Ohio - Lauren Kohn (Adrian, Mich.) scored a game-high 17 points and Quintana Ward (Park Forest, Ill.) followed with 15 points as the Ohio women's basketball team lost its conference opener on the road to Kent State, 76-63, on Wednesday night.
Ohio is now 7-6 overall this season and 0-1 in the MAC. Kent State advances 5-7 on the season and start the MAC 1-0.
Kohn finished the game 6-of-17 (35.3-percent) from the field while pulling down four rebounds. Ward ended the game 5-of-8 (62.5-percent) from the field and 3-of-4 (75-percent) from behind the arc.
Rachel Frederick (Gibsonia, Pa.) recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
As a team, the Bobcats had a good shooting night from the free throw line as they connected on 13-of-16 (81.3-percent) shots. Frederick, Kohn and Ward were all perfect from the charity stripe with Frederick flushing 7-of-7 and Kohn and Ward each putting down 2-of-2.
"I wasn't happy with our effort," said Head Coach Sylvia Crawley. "We had a lack of focus. We weren't ready and had mental breakdowns. Kent was the better team tonight. We have to learn that nobody's going to give us games because we did decent in the preseason."
Kent State was led by La'Kia Stewart with 14 points on 4-of-12 (33.3-percent) shooting. She also had 10 rebounds. Tiffany LaFleur registered 14 points and 11 rebounds. Asheley Harkins and Sarah Burgess totaled 10 points each.
The Bobcats took an early 11-5 lead to open the game, including a three-pointer by Ward at the 15-minute mark. The Golden Flashes used a 9-0 run of its own to pull ahead 14-11 at 11:30 after forcing turnover after turnover, never letting the Bobcats find their rhythm. Another three-pointer by Ward quenched Ohio's drought and tied the game, 14-14.
The Golden Flashes took a one point lead, 25-24, at the 5-minute mark and went on an 8-0 run to take its biggest lead of the half at 33-24. Frederick kept the Bobcats in the game as she connected on four straight free throws and the Bobcats went into the half down by only six points at 37-31.
Kent State kept its advantage in the second half and built an 11-point lead, 48-39, with 14:21 on the clock. Kohn then hit two back-to-back three-pointers to pull the `Cats within five at 45-50 and force a timeout by the Golden Flashes with 13:28 to go in the game.
Out of the timeout, the teams traded buckets and Kent State extended its lead to 13 at 67-54 with 4:25 remaining in regulation. With 2:56 on the clock, Ward hit another three-pointer to cut the Golden Flashes lead to nine at 70-61.
Kent State outscored Ohio 6 to 2 in the remaining minutes and won the game, 76-63.
The Bobcats will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 6 when they face Miami on the road. The Game is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
