Feb. 20, 2010
Final Stats | Quotes
ATHENS, Ohio - Jennifer Bushby tied a season-high 23 points to lead three Ohio players in double figures, and the `Cats blocked a season-high 12 shots on defense, but it was Kent State that managed to make the needed plays down the stretch as the Golden Flashes snuck away with a close 80-74 decision.
In a contest that mirrored the previous meeting between the two sides in Kent, action was back and forth, with the game coming down to the final couple minutes of play. Unfortunately for Ohio, the result was similar. Free throws cost the `Cats as they finished just 5-of-15 from the stripe. Kent meanwhile went to the line 37 times, knocking down 24 of them. The Flashes claimed the advantage in a close battle on the boards, outrebounding the Green and White 47-45. The `Cats did a solid job bothering Kent inside as they blocked a season-high 12 shots. They also had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio, dishing out 19 helpers on the day.
Bushby's (Gahanna, Ohio) 23 points, including a career-best tying six treys, helped pace Ohio, while the senior also dished out three assists and grabbed three rebounds. Thia Gholson (Louisville, Ky.) converted on a career-high seven field goal attempts to finish with 14 points and seven rebounds on 7-of-nine from the field. Carolyn Barnett (North Chicago, Ill.) notched her third double-digit game in as many outings with 12 points in 17 minutes off the bench.
Jenny Poff (St. John's, Mich.) knocked down two three's to extend her streak to 18-consecutive games with a trey. The senior also tied a season-high seven assists to go with four rebounds. Danielle Woodmore (Louisville, Ky.) enjoyed a nice game herself, dishing out a career-high five assists. Kamille Buckner (Chicago, Ill.) paced the Green and White's block party with a season-best five turnaways to go with her eight points and five boards.. Barnett picked up a career-high four rejections, while Bushby tied a season high with two rejections.
Action was tight in the early going with Ohio holding a 7-5 lead after a Bushby trey with 16:12 left in the first half. Things remained close over the next five minutes of play as the two squads exchanged blows. Kent held a 14-12 lead with 11:14 left in the half and added to its lead with five quick points to go up by seven.
The `Cats would not go away and pulled back to within 21-19 behind two more Bushby treys with 7:53 left in the stanza. A Poff three pulled Ohio to within one with 6:15 left. The Flashes took advantage of a 7-1 run to go up 30-23. Kent continued to put pressure on the `Cats, but they stayed right on the Flashes' heels. A Barnett triple pulled Ohio within five with 1:24 left in the half. Kent pulled ahead by eight, but a Poff follow off a miss in the waning seconds of the half made it 38-32 heading into the lockerroom.
Bushby paced Ohio with 14 points in the opening half, including 3-of-5 from distance. Kent held a slight 25-23 advantage on the glass, but second-chance points for the Flashes proved to be a key factor as they tallied 13 in the half while outscoring the `Cats 24-8 inside the paint.
Poff got Ohio off on the right foot on its first possession of the half with a three from the right elbow. Bushby followed her lead with one of her own to tie the action with 19:04 left. A Gholson putback capped a 10-0 run that started at the end of the first half to give the `Cats a 40-38 lead. Another Gholson bucket off a no-look pass from Poff put Ohio up by four.
Kent came roaring back with a three-point play from Jamilah Humes to pull back to within one, but Buckner muscled her way inside with a bucket to give Ohio a 46-43 lead with 15:41 left. The Flashes responded and came storming back with a few minutes later with a 7-0 run to go ahead 54-50. The Green and White would not go away, however, and came back to tie the score at 59 following a jumper from Ashley Fowler (Cincinnati, Ohio). A Gholson lay-in off a fast-break feed from Poff. Gholson responded a short time later to give the `Cats a 65-61 lead with 4:36 left.
The Flashes tied the score a short time later, before Buckner answered with a bucket inside to put Ohio back on top by two with 3:28 left. Turnovers reared its ugly head against the `Cats down the stretch as Kent capitalized to go up by seven with 1:16 left. Ohio would not go down without a fight and pulled to within 75-72 following a Barnett bucket with 14 seconds left. Kent knocked down its free throws as the Green and White was forced to foul. The Flashes eventually finished with the 80-74 win.
Humes tied Bushby for game-high honors with 23 to lead four Kent players in double digits. Taisja Jones added 20 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for a double-double.
Ohio will continue its conference homestand Tuesday night as it plays host to Miami. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
