Jan. 2, 2010
Final Stats | Quotes
ATHENS, Ohio - A huge 34-5 run over the final 16:56 of play helped Ohio start off the New Year right as the Bobcats rolled to a 74-40 win over Colgate Saturday afternoon in the Convo. Ohio snapped a six-game skid with the win in its final game before starting Mid-American Conference play.
The `Cats (4-9) took advantage of strong play on both sides of the ball as they shot a season-best 53 percent from the field and held the Raiders (5-8) to just 30 percent shooting overall, the second-lowest output by an Ohio opponent this season, and 12 second-half points. Eleven players scored for the `Cats, which knocked down eight 3-pointers on the afternoon.
Ohio dominated the backboards, winning the rebounding battle 38-27. The Green and White also controlled things inside, outscoring Colgate 34-14 in the paint, and got good production from its bench, which outscored the Raiders' reserves 30-18.
Jenny Poff (St. John's, Mich.) scored a game-high 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting from behind the arc to lead Ohio's balanced offensive attack. The senior also grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists. Kamille Buckner (Chicago, Ill.) added 10 points, including eight in the second half, to go with six rebounds and two steals. Da'Keisha Mann chipped in nine points, while Jennifer Bushby (Gahanna, Ohio) scored eight points and grabbed four rebounds and four steals to lead Ohio off the bench. With her four thefts, Bushby tied Erin Isbell (2001-05) for eighth on Ohio's all-time steals list. Maxine Ohakim (Westerville, Ohio) tallied six points off the pine, and Carolyn Barnett (North Chicago, Ill.) and Danielle Woodmore (Louisville, Ky.) each scored five.
Thia Gholson pulled down eight rebounds in 19 minutes of play to lead the `Cats on the glass. Ashley Fowler tied her career high with six assists.
With the action tight at 40-35 with 16:56 left, it was all Green and White the rest of the way as the `Cats pressure defense smothered Colgate and forced it into several costly turnovers, which helped propel the huge Ohio run that blew the game open. The `Cats led the game from start to finish.
Ohio rode a pair of Poff treys in the early minutes to jump out to a 9-2 lead. Colgate came back with a small run of its own to cut the lead to one. Ohio continued to shoot the ball well, but the Raiders' three-point shooting kept things close. Colgate clawed to within one at 16-15 with 10:26 left in the half, before the Green and White extended its lead and finished the half with a 34-28 advantage.
The `Cats finished the first stanza shooting 50 percent from the field and knocked down five three's.
Ohio went ahead by nine early in the second half, before the Raiders cut the lead to 40-35 with 16:56 left. It was all Green and White the rest of the way as the `Cats offense continued to click and the defense was nearly immovable in limiting Colgate to just five points the rest of the way en route to the big 74-40 win.
The `Cats will open up MAC play on the road Wednesday when it heads to Kent State. Tip-off with the Golden Flashes is scheduled for 7 p.m. Fans unable to follow the team to Kent can listen to the action live on WOUB AM 1340.
