Jan. 31, 2009
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes
ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio women's basketball team rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit, but could not complete the comeback, as it dropped a 72-65 decision to Central Michigan Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center. The win was the Chippewas' (12-9, 4-3 Mid-American Conference) first over the Bobcats (7-12, 3-4 MAC) in their last six tries.
"This one was pretty tough," Ohio head coach Semeka Randall said. "We knew this was going to be a one-on-one battle. Central Michigan did a good job of attacking the basket."
Ohio shot 45.6 percent in the game, including 59.3 in the second half (16-of-27), while limiting CMU to 44.1 percent from the field, but the Chippewas knocked down 14 free throws to Ohio's seven. Central Michigan also converted 25 Bobcat turnovers, including 14 steals, into 29 points, and outscored Ohio's bench 21-6. The 'Cats did hold a 37-33 edge in rebounding, the 14th time they've done so this season, and also totaled a season-high 21 assists on 26 field goals.
Junior guard Jenny Poff (St. John's, Mich.) tied for the game high with 20 points, including 17 in the second stanza, on 7-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-9 from behind the arc, while also handing out four helpers. The four trifectas moved Poff into a tie for sixth place on Ohio's career 3-point field goals made list with 100. Fellow junior guard Jennifer Bushby (Gahanna, Ohio) doled out a career-high 11 dimes, while also contributing six points, all in the opening 20 minutes, and a pair of steals.
Senior forward Lauren Hmiel (York, Pa.) and sophomore forward Kamille Buckner (Chicago, Ill.) were the other two Bobcats in double figures with 15 and 10, respectively. Hmiel also gathered five rebounds, had three assists and a steal, while Buckner garnered seven boards and swatted two shots, giving her 38 this season, the fourth-highest total in a single-season at Ohio. Sophomore center Thia Gholson (Louisville, Ky.) tied a career high with eight points, while collecting a game-high 11 rebounds.
The Chippewas were led by Brandie Baker's 20 points and eight rebounds, while Kaihla Szunko had 12 points and eight boards for CMU.
The Bobcats fell behind early, 20-8, forcing an Ohio timeout with 11:23 left in the half, despite a pair of field goals early from Gholson that had given the 'Cats a 4-3 lead just 1:50 into the contest. Back-to-back triples from Bushby cut the deficit to 10, after Ohio trailed by as much as 16. The Bobcats closed to within seven on a Buckner layup with 1:08 to play, but CMU scored the final four points of the period for a 38-27 lead at recess.
The Green & White struggled to hit shots in the opening 20 minutes, going 10-of-30 from the floor, including 3-of-9 from distance, while the Chippewas shot 46.9 percent on 15-of-32 from the field, but made just 3-of-13 3-pointers. Central Michigan also capitalized on 10 Bobcat turnovers, scoring 12 points off the miscues, while Ohio scored just six points on eight Chippewa giveaways. Buckner led the 'Cats with eight points and four caroms at the break.
After a CMU free throw to open the second stanza, Ohio used a 10-0 run on 5-of-5 shooting, including six points from Poff, to close the gap to two at 39-37 less than four minutes into the frame. The Chips responded with an 8-0 run to boost their lead back to double digits at the 14:20 mark, however. A free throw from freshman guard Da'Keisha Mann (Columbus, Ohio) put the Bobcats down four at 49-45 with 12:23 remaining, but Ohio would get no closer, as Central Michigan coasted to the 72-65 victory.
"We got down early in the first half and that hurt us," Randall said. "We had to expend all our energy fighting back to get in the game and that was the difference."
The Bobcats return to the hardwood Wednesday, Feb. 4 for another cross-divisional MAC game at Eastern Michigan. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. at EMU's Convocation Center.
