Nov. 10, 2010
Final Stats
ATHENS, Ohio - Strong defensive play coupled with solid all-around efforts lifted Ohio women's basketball to a huge 66-36 win over Ohio Dominican in exhibition action as the `Cats' opened up their 2010-11 season Wednesday night in the Convo.
Junior transfer Tenishia Benson (Akron, Ohio) made her Ohio debut scoring a game-high 17 points and pulling down seven rebounds to go with two steals to lead a balanced Ohio effort. Sophomore Ashley Fowler (Cincinnati, Ohio) added 14 points, while Thia Gholson (Louisville, Ky.) and transfer Alesia Howard (Columbus, Ohio) chipped in nine and eight points, respectively.
Ohio pounded the backboards hard, outrebounding ODU 43-32 on the night. Four different Bobcats pulled down seven boards, including Benson, Howard, freshman Shavon Robinson (Canton, Ohio) and Symone Lyles (Silver Spring, Md.). Six of Howard's boards came on the offensive glass.
The Green and White defense pressured the Panthers into 27 turnovers while grabbing 17 steals and holding ODU to just 28 percent shooting on the night. Gholson recorded a game-high three thefts, equaling what would have been her career best. Six Bobcats tallied two steals apiece.
Action started slowly as both sides played to an even 4-4 score through the first four minutes. Play continued to go back and forth through the next few minutes with the score even at eight apiece with nine minutes left in the half.
It was all Ohio the rest of the frame as the `Cats reeled off a huge 24-5 run the rest of the way. A Robinson layup and a pair of Benson free throws got the run started before two Fowler buckets and a Benson trey gave the `Cats a 19-10 advantage with just under five minutes left in the first half.
Gholson added a freebie to put Ohio up 20-10, before an ODU three cut the lead to 20-13. A Benson layup mixed with strong play inside from Buckner and Gholson helped the `Cats take a 32-13 lead into the lockerroom.
Ohio's defense smothered the Panthers in the opening half, holding them to just five field goals and a 26 percent shooting clip. The Green and White, meanwhile, finished at a solid 41 percent clip from the field. Benson led the way with nine points and four rebounds in the frame, while Gholson chipped in seven.
Four Howard points and a Fowler triple early in the second stanza pushed the `Cats' advantage to 43-15 with 16 minutes left. Gholson knocked down jumper from the elbow to give Ohio a 45-15 lead with 13:16 left. Five unanswered Panther points cut the Green and White lead to 25.
ODU continued to claw and cut the advantage to 50-30 after a three from Katy Rasor with 6:41 left. That evidently did not sit well with the `Cats as they reeled off a 12-0 run behind four points each from Benson and Fowler to give them their largest lead of the night at 62-30 with 3:02 left. Ohio kept up its strong defensive play to cruise to the 30-point win.
Rasor led the Panthers with nine points, while Summer Hale added five. Former Ohio player Tracy Snider chipped in five points, while Shelley Warren led ODU with five rebounds.
The `Cats will now ready themselves for their home opener Sunday when they welcome Louisville of the BIG EAST. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. in the Convo.
