Dec. 19, 2010
Final Stats
ATHENS, Ohio - Tenishia Benson registered a double-double with a career-high 27 points and 10 rebounds while also adding four steals and a pair of assists as Ohio held off a pesky Presbyterian squad, 63-57, Sunday in the Convo. Tina Fisher chipped in a career-best 10 points and three rebounds, including two critical buckets down the stretch to seal the win.
With the win, Ohio snapped a seven-game skid and improved to 3-8 on the season. The Blue Hose fell to 2-7 overall.
Defense played a key role for the Green and White as it held Presbyterian to just four points during a span of 10:12 over the last part of the first half to spur a big Bobcat run. Ohio picked up 15 steals in the game while forcing the Blue Hose into 23 turnovers, which resulted in 20 Green and White points. The `Cats also won the battle on the boards for the third consecutive game, outrebounding Presbyterian 36-33.
Benson's (Akron, Ohio) 27 capped a career week as tallied her second double-double of the week after pulling down a career-high 11 rebounds against Duquesne. In addition to Fisher's (Cottage Grove, Minn.) 10, Alesia Howard (Columbus, Ohio) added nine, while Kamille Buckner (Chicago, Ill.) chipped in seven to go with a pair of blocks and a pair of steals. Ashley Fowler (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Symone Lyles (Silver Spring, Md.) helped key Ohio's defense, with five and four steals, respectively, career bests for each. Thia Gholson (Louisville, Ky.) turned a strong effort on the glass, pulling down six rebounds in just 13 minutes of play.
Mariah Pietrowski led Presbyterian with 19 points and eight rebounds while Amanda Mills added 12 and Dria David finished with seven points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Presbyterian opened the game with a 7-2 lead, before the `Cats got going. Ohio responded with a 12-2 run of its own, getting seven points from Benson and five from Howard, to take a 14-9 lead. Leading 20-16, Ohio went on another run, scoring seven of the next nine points to push the lead to nine.
The margin would then go to double-digits for the first time on a three-pointer by Fisher with 1:33 remaining in the half. A layup by Benson closed the first half with Ohio in front, 32-21.
The Bobcats shot 43.3 percent for the half and limited Presbyterian to 1 of 10 shooting from beyond the arc. Ohio forced 14 Blue Hose turnovers and converted them into 15 points. Benson led all players in the first 20 minutes with 14 points and four rebounds for the `Cats.
Leading 34-23, Ohio went on a 9-2 run getting three from Ashley Fowler and two each from Benson, Howard and Buckner. The teams would go back and forth trading baskets before Mills dropped home consecutive three-pointers to cut the lead to 11 at 52-41 with 6:35 remaining. However, out of a timeout, Fisher drilled a three-pointer to seemingly stop the Presbyterian run.
Despite adding a free throw and going ahead by 15, Ohio saw the Blue Hose score 10-consecutive points, including eight from Pietrowski, to cut the lead to 56-51 with 3:23 showing on the clock. After another Fisher bucket for Ohio, Karlee Taylor knocked down a three-pointer to cut it to 58-54. From that point on, the Ohio defense clamped down and got stops on successive possessions.
The `Cats made four-straight free throws before Mills banked home another three to make it 62-57 with 27 seconds in the game. However, that would be as close as Ohio would let the visitors get, sealing the victory.
Ohio will wrap up its homestand Tuesday afternoon as it plays host to Cleveland State before breaking for Christmas. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. in the Convo.
