Dec. 16, 2010
Final Stats
ATHENS, Ohio - Tenishia Benson picked up her first double-double of the season with 16 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, but Ohio fell to a hot Duquesne squad, 82-52, Tuesday in the Convo.
The Dukes (8-1) fed off Ohio miscues, turning 31 Bobcat turnovers into 39 points. Duquesne also shot a sizzling 47 percent from behind the arc, converting on 8-of-17 attempts. Ohio (2-8) won the battle on the boards, 43-37, and had a 17-13 advantage in second-chance points. The `Cats shot 33 percent from the field overall, but turnovers ultimately proved their demise.
Benson (Akron, Ohio) tallied a game-high 16 points while recording the fourth double-double of her career overall. The junior also added four assists and two steals to her line. Thia Gholson (Louisville, Ky.) chipped in eight points while tallying a season-best six rebounds and tying her career-high four assists. Ashley Fowler (Cincinnati, Ohio) also added eight points, along with three assists and two steals. Kamille Buckner (Chicago, Ill.) and Alesia Howard (Columbus, Ohio) each chipped in six, while Buckner added seven boards, two blocks and two steals.
The game started was tied early before Duquesne went on a 10-2 run to open a 20-12 lead. A layup by Gholson and free throws from Benson cut the Bobcat deficit to four with 9:10 remaining in the first half.
With the `Cats still hanging around down 22-18, the Dukes went on an 11-0 run to open the lead up to double digits. The dry spell was broken on a 3-pointer by Benson, but that proved to be the last field goal of the half for Ohio. Benson and Buckner would each contribute two free throws at the end of the half, but the Bobcats found themselves down 41-25 at the intermission.
Benson finished the first half with 13 of Ohio's points and also grabbed six rebounds. Gholson added four points for the Green & White and four other players contributed two points each. The Dukes were led by 10 points from Kelly Britcher. Ohio used 12 offensive rebounds to gain a six-rebound advantage in the first half.
The aggressiveness on the glass also helped the Bobcats hold a 10-2 advantage in second chance points.
Duquesne shot over 50 percent as a team in the first half while limiting Ohio to only 31-percent shooting from the field. The Dukes also used their size to score almost half their points (20) in the paint and also received 19 points from their bench as opposed to four from the `Cats' reserves.
The second half opened with both sides exchanging blows through the first few minutes. Ohio came back to pull within 14 after a Lyles bucket with 12:38 left. That would be as close as the `Cats would get as Duquesne reeled off 17-5 run over the next six minutes to take a decisive advantage. Rims went cold for Ohio as it managed just five points the last six minutes of the game, while the Dukes took home the victory.
Vanessa Abel paced six Duquesne players in double figures with 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting, while Alex Gensler added 15 points. Three Dukes chipped in 11, including Samantha Pollino, Ahjah Hall and Orsi Szecsi. Britcher finished with 10, while Wumi Agunbiade pulled down a team-high 10 boards.
The `Cats will look to rebound as they play host to Presbyterian Sunday afternoon. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. in the Convo.
