Nov. 20, 2010
Final Stats | Quotes
ATHENS, Ohio - Memories of its loss to Memphis two seasons ago in Memphis evidently lingered with Ohio as the `Cats repaid the favor with a big 62-45 victory over the visiting Tigers Saturday afternoon. Junior Tenishia Benson scored a game-high tying 19 points to help pace a balanced Ohio effort.
With the action tight with a little over 10 minutes left in the game, the `Cats outscored Memphis 18-5 the rest of the way to pull away for the win. The Green and White held the Tigers without a bucket for the last three minutes of play.
Ohio's defense was strong all day, holding Memphis to just 27 percent shooting on the day. The `Cats bottled up the Tigers' leading scorer Jasmine Lee, holding her to just nine points on 3-of-9 shooting. The University of Georgia transfer was averaging 19 ppg. through Memphis' first three games.
Five different Bobcats scored at least six points on the day, with Benson's (Akron, Ohio) 19 leading the way. Ohio got big contributions from its bench as well, outscoring Memphis' reserves 18-9, after managing just seven points against Louisville last time out. In addition to her strong scoring, Benson added a team-high seven rebounds and three assists. Shavon Robinson led all bench players with seven points to go with an impressive stat line that included five rebounds, six assists and a block.
Alesia Howard (Columbus, Ohio) scored a career-high nine points, while Kamille Buckner (Chicago, Ill.) tallied a career-best five assists to go with a game-high four blocks, three rebounds and a steal. Sophomore Ashley Fowler (Cincinnati, Ohio) chipped in seven points and three boards, while Thia Gholson (Louisville, Ky.) tallied six points while pulling down five boards.
Action was tight through the first few minutes of play with Ohio clinging to a 6-4 advantage after a baseline jumper from Benson. A Robinson layup off a Buckner feed gave the Green and White a 13-10 lead with 13:58 left in the first half.
Two Benson buckets inside helped the `Cats cap off a 12-2 run and give them a 25-15 advantage with 6:46 left in the opening frame. Ohio held the Tigers without a bucket for a span of 4:18 during that stretch. Memphis would not lay down, however, and battled back to pull within 28-22 after a pair of freebies.
Ohio extended its lead back up to nine after a pair of Symone Lyles (Silver Spring, Md.) free throws with just over a minute left. The Tigers came back with an old fashioned three-point play to pull within 31-25 going into the lockerroom.
The `Cats enjoyed a solid opening half shooting the ball, coming in at a 48 percent clip from the field. They also took advantage of a 16-8 advantage inside the paint. Benson led all scorers with 10 points in the half, while Robinson chipped in five.
A pair of quick Tiger buckets to start the second half pulled Memphis to within two. Freshman Erin Bailes (Huntington, W. Va.) broke the Memphis momentum with the first points of her collegiate career with a trey from the corner to put the `Cats back on top by five with 16:37 left.
The Tigers battled back and pulled within 38-37 after a Brittany Carter jumper with 13:45 left. Three Benson freebies followed by a Howard three-point play capped off a quick Ohio run to put the Green and White on top 44-37. A big Benson trey followed by jumpers from Tina Fisher (Cottage Grove, Minn.) and Robinson helped the `Cats extend their lead to 55-42 with 6:05 left.
Benson struck again with a leaner down the lane to give Ohio its largest lead of the afternoon at 58-42 with 4:39 left. The Tigers pulled to within 58-45 following a Carter triple with 3:01 remaining, but that was the last bucket Memphis would score the rest of the way as the Green and White took the 62-45 decision.
Carter matched Benson for game-high scoring honors with 19 to lead the Tigers, while Lee chipped in nine to go with her game-high 12 boards.
The `Cats will have a short turnaround, returning to action Tuesday night with their first road game of the year in a trip to Huntington, W. Va. to take on Marshall. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
