Jan. 9, 2010
Final Stats | Quotes
ATHENS, Ohio - Thia Gholson scored a career-high 15 points, but the Bobcats' Mid-American Conference home opener was spoiled by Bowling Green as the Falcons picked up a 77-42 win over the Bobcats Saturday in the `Convo.
The Falcons (12-4, 2-0 MAC) took advantage of two big runs at key junctures of the game to come away with the win. With things tight early on, BGSU reeled off a huge 22-3 run to pull out in front. Nearly midway through the second half, Ohio (4-11, 0-2 MAC) pulled to within potential striking distance before the Falcons reeled off a big 17-6 run to put the game out of reach.
Turnovers reared its ugly head on the day as it bit the `Cats for 26 costly miscues, which BGSU feasted off of with 39 big points off those turnovers. The Falcons also rode a hot hand from the outside, shooting 44 percent from behind the arc overall.
The `Cats finished the contest shooting 38 percent from the field and pulled down 31 rebounds overall. Ohio shot a solid 41 percent in the second half.
Gholson's (Louisville, Ky.) 15 points led the Green and White as she equaled Carolyn Barnett (North Chicago, Ill.) and Kamille Buckner (Chicago, Ill.) for a team-high four rebounds. Barnett also pitched in eight points on the day, while freshman Ashley Fowler (Cincinnati, Ohio) totaled seven points.
Action was tight the first few minutes with BGSU clinging to a 4-3 after a Poff trey. The Falcons caught fire and rode a hot hand from behind the arc to go on a 22-3 run and take a 25-6 lead with 7:40 left in the first half.
BGSU fed off costly Green and White turnovers while also keeping its hot shooting stroke going. The rims were a little unkind to the `Cats meanwhile as the Falcons went up by as many as 23 points in the half. BGSU took a 37-18 in the lockerroom.
Ohio turned the ball over 15 times in the first half, which resulted in 26 Falcon points. The `Cats finished the half shooting 33 percent from the field, while BGSU connected on 44 percent from behind the arc, knocking down eight treys. Ohio outrebounded BGSU 17-16 in the half, while getting 12 points from its bench.
Ohio came out strong to start the second half and cut the lead to 46-28 after a Gholson bucket inside with 13:50 remaining. BGSU would not go away, however, and came back strong. The Green and White tried to keep within striking distance, shooting 41 percent in the second half, but BGSU continued to sizzle and built its lead to as many as 35 points at the end of the second half.
Gholson had her way with the Falcons on the inside as she used a variety of moves and putbacks en route to her 15 points. She helped spark another strong effort from the `Cats' reserves as they totaled 29 points on the night and outscored BGSU's bench 29-27.
Tracy Pontius led the Falcons with a game-high 18 points, while reigning MAC Player of the Year Lauren Prochaska added 17 points.
The Green and White will continue MAC play Wednesday when it heads to Oxford to battle division-rival Miami. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. in Millett Hall.
