Dec. 29, 2010
Final Stats
WILMINGTON, N.C. - Symone Lyles scored a career-high 12 points and nine rebounds to lead three Bobcats in double figures, but a big UNC Wilmington run in the second half cost the `Cats as they fell, 62-53, in a hard-fought battle on the road in the Trask Coliseum. Alesia Howard added 11 points and tied a career-best eight rebounds for Ohio, while Thia Gholson chipped in a season-high 10 points and seven rebounds.
The `Cats won the rebounding battle for the fifth straight game, outrebounding UNCW 41-37, but the Seahawks took advantage of costly Ohio turnovers, scoring 19 points off 23 Green and White miscues. With action tight with 16 minutes left, UNCW reeled off a decisive 20-8 run over a span of 9:15 to take control of the contest.
The Green and White defense turned in a strong night, holding a strong Seahawk squad, averaging over 71 points and 43 percent shooting coming in, to a 37.9 percent clip, including a 31 percent showing in the opening half.
Lyles (Silver Spring, Md.) scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half, while Howard (Columbus, Ohio) scored nine of her 11 in the opening frame. Gholson's seven boards were a season best, while Ashley Fowler (Cincinnati, Ohio) picked up four steals. Kamille Buckner (Chicago, Ill.) pulled down five rebounds and blocked two shots to move into fourth place on the Mid-American Conference's all-time list.
Defense dominated the first four minutes of play as both squads managed just six points, with UNCW holding a two-point edge. A pair of Seahawk threes sparked a UNC run that put the Seahawks up 16-7 with just under 11 minutes left in the half.
The `Cats fought back with a 10-2 run of their own behind six Howard points to pull within 18-17. An old-fashioned three-point play from Gholson a short time later tied the game at 20 at the 5:21 mark. Action remained tight over the next few minutes before the Green and White took its first lead of the contest after a Gholson jumper with 1:06 left in the half. UNCW retook a one-point advantage before Fisher knocked down a baseline jumper with 26 seconds left to give Ohio a 26-25 lead going into the lockerroom.
Ohio's defense turned in a strong showing, holding the Seahawks to just 31 percent shooting from the field and claiming a 22-21 advantage on the boards. UNCW capitalized on 11 offensive rebounds in the half to claim 10 second-chance points.
Howard paced the `Cats with nine points and six rebounds in the half, while Gholson chipped in five points. Brittany Blackwell led UNCW with eight first-half points.
Action remained tight to start the second half, with the score tied at 36 with 15:52 left. UNCW responded with a 9-5 run behind five Blackwell points to take a 45-41 lead. The Seahawks managed to keep their charge going and eventually went up by 12 after a big trey from Alisha Andrews.
Ohio pulled back to within nine on a couple of occasions, including once with 3:45 left. UNCW was able to answer, however, to keep the `Cats at bay. The Green and White made a late charge with a pair of freebies from Shavon Robinson (Canton, Ohio), but the rims were unkind the last few minutes as the Seahawks took the win.
Blackwell led all scorers and two UNCW players in double figures with a game-high 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Andrews knocked down five treys to finish with 15 points, five rebounds, six assists and six steals.
Ohio will tip off 2011 and MAC play next Wednesday, Jan. 5, when it welcomes defending conference champion Bowling Green to the Convo for a 7 p.m. matchup.
