March 7, 2009
Final Stats
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Jennifer Bushby sizzled while scoring a career-high 25 points to lead three Ohio players in double figures, and freshman Da'Keisha Mann recorded her second double-double in three games with 10 points and a career-best 11 rebounds as Ohio (12-17, 7-9) battled No. 25 Bowling Green (26-3, 15-1) tooth and nail before the Falcons pulled away down the stretch to claim the 79-64 victory.
Bushby also finished the day with seven assists, moving past the 300 mark for her career, and blocked two shots while tying a career-best five made 3-pointers. She finished the day a scorching 10-of-12 from the field, including 5-of-6 from behind the arc. Lauren Hmiel chipped in 13 points and six rebounds while finishing 6-of-9 from the field, and Jenny Poff added nine points of her own.
Ohio finished the day shooting 48 percent, going 27-of-56 from the field and knocking down six three pointers in 12 tries. Mann helped lead the `Cats to a plus-11 rebounding edge on the glass, outrebounding the Falcons 35-24, including 17 on the offensive end. One of the deciding factors on the day was BGSU's hot shooting that ended the day 28-of-50 from the floor for a 56 percent clip. The Falcons also made 23 trips to the charity line, compared to just nine for the Bobcats.
The two foes came out of the gates battling back and forth over the first five minutes of play. A Lauren Prochaska 3-pointer gave the Falcons a 9-5 lead early on. BGSU took advantage of Ohio foul trouble to take an eight-point lead at 21-13 with 8:19 left in the first half. The `Cats cut the lead to six a short time later, but BGSU hit a pair of quick threes to take a 28-15 lead with 6:38 left before the break.
Ohio would not give up. Backed by a strong defense that kept the Falcons without a point for over six and a half minutes, the `Cats ripped off an 11-2 run behind a pair Hmiel buckets and a big 3-pointer from Jenny Poff. BGSU's Tracy Pontius finally ended its drought with a jumper in the waning seconds to give the Falcons the 30-26 edge going into the lockerroom.
The Green and White finished the first frame shooting 11-of-27 from the field, including 2-for-3 from long range, for a 40 percent clip. Bushby paced Ohio with nine points and three assists on 4-of-4 shooting in the period. The Falcons shot 47 percent from the floor, taking advantage of several costly Bobcat turnovers and shooting 50 percent (4-of-8) from behind the arc to stake claim to their advantage.
Both squads came out swinging to start the start of the second half and the action remained tight. A Bushby jumper with 16:53 put the BGSU lead at 37-35. Niki McCoy helped spur a 9-2 Falcon outburst as BGSU took a 46-37 lead with 14:12 remaining. The action was furious over the next few minutes. Bushby kept the `Cats in the hunt by scorching the nets with three-straight 3-pointers to cut the deficit to one at 57-56 with 7:46 remaining.
The Falcons continued to feast on Ohio foul trouble and took a 70-60 lead with 3:57 to play. The `Cats continued to fight, but they were unable to get much closer the rest of the way as BGSU pulled away at the end to take the 79-64 win in contest that was closer than the final score indicated.
Ohio is still assured no worse than the third seed in next weekend's MAC Tournament at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland and will now await the outcome of the Akron-Kent State game later today. News of the `Cats' seeding fortune will be available on OhioBobcats.com later in the evening. Specifics of the Green and White's first-round opponent next week will be available when it becomes known. Fans can still purchase tickets for the MAC Tournament through the Ohio athletics ticket office.
