Dec. 4, 2010
Final Stats
CHICAGO, Ill. - Windy City native Carolyn Barnett scored a team-high 19 points, but Chicago State took advantage of a huge run to start the second half as the Bobcats fell, 67-54, Saturday in the Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center.
The `Cats (2-4) held a 29-26 at the half, but the Cougars (3-4) opened the second frame with a decisive 18-2 run to capture the momentum. Ohio fought back valiantly, but the Cougars' hot shooting the second half was just a little too much to overcome.
The Green and White finished the game shooting 35.8 percent from the field, but finished at just a 30 percent clip in the second half. Both teams pulled down 37 rebounds apiece in the battle on the boards. The `Cats will now turn their attention to Temple for a Monday-night showdown.
Barnett's (North Chicago, Ill.) 19 paced Ohio, while the senior also added three rebounds, two assists and a steal. Alesia Howard (Columbus, Ohio) chipped in nine points to go with a team-best tying five boards. Fellow Windy City native Kamille Buckner (Chicago, Ill.) tallied seven points, five rebounds, two blocks and three steals, while Ashley Fowler (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Tenishia Benson (Akron, Ohio) each added seven points as well. Benson and Shavon Robinson (Canton, Ohio) each tallied three steals, a season- and career-best for Robinson.
Action was frantic in the early going with both sides exchanging buckets. CSU eventually took a 26-19 lead with just under seven minutes left in the first half. Ohio came charging back with a big 10-0 run the remainder of the half to take a 29-26 lead into the lockerroom.
After struggling from the field last time out, the `Cats finished the opening half shooting 43.5 percent from the field. Four Ohio players finished with at least four points, led by Barnett's eight and Howard's seven. The Green and White held a 20-15 advantage on the boards while holding a strong-shooting Cougar squad to a 38.7 percent clip from the floor.
The rims turned as cold as the weather outside on Ohio as CSU reeled off an 18-2 run to start the second half and led 44-31 with 11:51 left. The Cougars eventually extended their lead to as many as 17 with eight minutes left. Barnett knocked down treys on consecutive possessions to help cut the advantage to 56-42 with 6:39 left.
Ohio pulled two with 12 after a steal and layup from Robinson a short time later, but that would be as close as the `Cats would get the rest of the way. CSU pulled out to an 18-point advantage with 1:34 left, before the Green and White closed the game with a 7-2 run to make it 67-54 as the final buzzer sounded.
The Cougars shot a sizzling 50 percent from the field in the second half en route to a 43.9 percent effort for the game. Tressa Beckel led all players and two Cougars in double digits with a game-high 24 points to go with 10 boards. Courtney Waldon added 13 points for CSU.
The Green and White will now host the Owls Monday night in the Convo. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
