Feb. 8, 2009
Final Stats
TOLEDO, Ohio - In a match-up of two of the Mid-American Conference's top defenses, the Ohio University women's basketball team could not hold off a feisty Toledo (13-9, 7-2 MAC) squad that earned a come-from-behind 60-51 win Sunday afternoon at Savage Arena. The Bobcats (8-13, 4-5 MAC) were led by senior forward Lauren Hmiel's (York, Pa.) 18 points, her seventh-straight double-figure scoring performance.
The Bobcats' 51 points tied for the second-fewest this season and least in a league contest, as Ohio hit at a 40.0 percent clip for the game, including 12-of-25 in the second half. The Rockets shot 41.8 percent from the field, but made half of their shots in the final 20 minutes, including 4-of-8 from distance.
The 'Cats outrebounded the home team 39-31, marking the 16th time in 21 tries Ohio has won the battle of the boards, with 18 coming on the offensive side. The Bobcats managed only 12 second-chance points, however. Both team turned the ball over, as Toledo converted 24 Ohio miscues into 24 points, while the visitors scored 22 points on 18 UT giveaways.
"We really played pretty well the majority of the game," Ohio head coach Semeka Randall said. "We missed a lot of layups and open shots that we should have converted at some key times. In the end, that was the difference."
Hmiel tied a career-high with eight field goals on 14 attempts en route to tying for game-high honors with her 18 points, while also tallying seven rebounds. Junior guard Jennifer Bushby (Gahanna, Ohio) was the only other double-figure scorer for the 'Cats with 14, nine in the second period, while also handing out a game-high six assists and snagging four steals.
Sophomore center Thia Gholson (Louisville, Ky.) brought down a game-high 10 rebounds, five offensive, while also tying a career high with a pair of thefts in a career-high tying 31 minutes of action. Sophomore forward Kamille Buckner (Chicago, Ill.) chipped in eight points, nine caroms, including six offensive rebounds, and a pair of rejections, which moved her into sole possession of second place on Ohio's career blocks ledger with 72. Freshman guard Tracy Snider (Lancaster, Ohio) contributed four points, three rebounds and a dime, all Bobcat firsts for the rookie, off the bench in a career-high 14 minutes of action.
Toledo was paced by junior Tanika Mays' 18 points, eight rebounds and five steals, while sophomore teammate Jessica Williams added 12 points and five helpers.
The two squads traded the first four baskets of the game, until a 10-2 Rocket run boosted Toledo to a 14-6 edge with less than 13 minutes on the clock. Snider's jumper late in the first half gave the freshman her first-career points as a Bobcat and put Ohio on top for the second time in the game at 17-16. Hmiel capped a 13-2 Bobcat spurt with a basket to give Ohio its largest first-half lead at 19-16. The Green & White entered the locker room clinging to a 21-20 advantage.
Both teams struggled with its shooting in the opening 20 minutes, as the 'Cats hit 33.0 percent of their shots (10-of-30), compared to Toledo's 32.0 percent, with both squads knocking down just one of its triple tries. Ohio collected 23 rebounds in the first frame, including 12 on the offensive glass, while limiting the Rockets to 15. Hmiel paced the Bobcats at the break with eight points and five boards, while Gholson corralled six caroms.
Ohio started fast in the second stanza, registering the first-four points. Hmiel's basket-and-one gave the 'Cats an eight-point cushion at 30-22, before an 18-8 run regained the lead for Toledo at the eight-minute mark. Ohio led 46-44, until the Rockets capped a 12-0 run over 2:30 with a Lisa Johnson trifecta, forcing the 'Cats to call timeout facing their largest deficit of the game at 10. Ohio was unable to turn its fortunes however, and fell to Toledo 60-51.
"Give Toledo credit," Randall said. "They made a big run and hit some shots at the end."
The Bobcats return to the hardwood Wednesday, Feb. 11, as they'll play host to the Western Michigan Broncos in an inter-divisional MAC game. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
