Feb. 17, 2009
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes
ATHENS, Ohio - Junior guard Jennifer Bushby scored a season-high 22 points to lead a quartet of Bobcats in double figures as the `Cats (9-15, 4-7) broke a three-game losing skid with an 83-74 win over Utah Valley (13-9), ending the Wolverines' seven-game winning streak. Ohio also got 17 points off the bench, including a career-best 10 from freshman Maxine Ohakim.
"It feels good to get this win," Ohio coach Semeka Randall said. "I thought we had some key players really step up. Jennifer Bushby hit some big-time shots for our team tonight, and we got solid efforts from other players. Our bench also came in and gave us some big minutes. I was really pleased with our effort."
Scoring in double digits for the 15th time in 17 games, senior forward Lauren Hmiel chipped in 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting and grabbed six boards and a steal. Junior guard Jenny Poff added 13 points and five assists, including 3-of-6 from behind the arc, tying her for fourth place in school history with 105 career 3-point field goals.
Sophomore forward Kamille Buckner took over the Ohio single-season blocks record with her three rejections tonight, giving her 49 for the year, while also notching eight points, five rebounds and three assists. Bushby added seven boards, six assists and four steals to go along with 8-of-14 from the field, including 2-of-3 from distance. With her six helpers, she moved into eighth all-time on Ohio's single-season assists ledger.
As a team, the Bobcats shot a solid 51.6 percent from the field on 32-of-62 field goals, tying a season high in field goals made. The `Cats also won the battle on the boards for the 17th time this season, pulling down 37 rebounds to Utah Valley's 34.
The first half resembled a heavy-weight fight as the two squads matched each other blow for blow through the first 10 minutes of play. With UVU holding a 17-14 edge, the `Cats caught fire and surged out to a 19-4 run over 8:17 of play, including seven-straight point from Bushby in that span, to take a 33-21 lead with 1:24 left in the half. A Fairbanks bucket down low put a halt on Ohio's run, but it still took the 37-25 lead into the lockerroom. The Green and White finished 15-of-29 from the field, including 4-of-6 from behind the arc.
Ohio maintained its lead through the early part of the second half, until the Wolverines mounted an 8-2 run to cut the lead to five with 14:48 left. A Bushby layup off an Ohakim steal put the `Cats up by 10, 54-44, with 11:58 left. UVU would never get any closer the rest of the way as Ohio sealed off the win.
"This was a good win that will give us some confidence going back to conference play," Randall said. "We're looking to build from this."
The Wolverines (13-9) were paced by senior center Robyn Fairbanks, a 2008 Honorable Mention All-American, who tallied a game-high 32 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. UVU shot 46.3 percent from the field, but Ohio's perimeter defense limited the Wolverines to just 2-of-17 from 3-point range.
Ohio Fans are invited to cram the Convo this Saturday, Feb. 21 for the Bobcats' "Think Pink" game to pay respect to breast cancer. Tip-off against MAC-East foe Buffalo is set for 2 p.m. ET. All fans wearing pink will be admitted free of charge.
