Feb. 27, 2010
Final Stats | Quotes
ATHENS, Ohio - Jennifer Bushby's buzzer-beating three as time expired put the exclamation point on a fantastic showing from the `Cats' seniors as Ohio edged past Buffalo, 61-58, on Senior Day in the Convo Saturday afternoon. Bushby and Jenny Poff each scored 21 points on the day for the Green and White, while Bushby tallied a career-high four blocks and Poff nabbed a season-best five steals to cap off the day's festivities.
The Bulls' Brittany Hederson knocked down a game-tying jumper with five seconds left before the `Cats called a time out with 4.1 seconds on the clock. Bushby (Gahanna, Ohio) took the inbounds pass just past three-quarters court, turned and drove up court before pulling up and swishing the game-winning trey from the top of the arc as the buzzer sounded.
After being recognized for their accomplishments before the game, the two fourth-year standouts stole the show at key junctures in the contest to ensure the victory. Bushby scored 14 points in the first half to help Ohio get out to a good start, while Poff (St. John's, Mich.) knocked down back-to-back treys to cap a key `Cat run in the first half and then finished with three key free throws in the final minute.
Despite being outrebounded 46-29 by a strong Buffalo squad on the boards, Ohio (8-20, 4-11 MAC) countered it by forcing the Bulls (7-21, 3-12 MAC) into 26 turnovers and grabbing a season-best 16 steals. The `Cats also took advantage of Buffalo miscues with 25 points off turnovers and outscoring the Bulls 13-4 in fast-break opportunities. Buffalo turned in a strong shooting day from the field, finishing with a 47 percent clip from the floor, including 5-11 from downtown. Ohio shot 34 percent overall, but countered it by hitting eight 3-pointers and knocking down 9-of-13 from the charity stripe.
In addition to their 21 points each, Poff dished out a team-high four assists and Bushby recorded four rebounds, three assists and three steals to add to her solid line from the game. Danielle Woodmore (Louisville, Ky.) chipped in seven points, while Kamille Buckner (Chicago, Ill.) tallied six points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Thia Gholson (Louisville, Ky.) also pulled down seven boards to tie Buckner for team-high honors.
Five points from Woodmore, including an old-fashioned three-point play, staked Ohio to an early 7-2 lead with 17:04 left in the first half. The Bulls would not go away and stormed back to pull within 14-13 following a bucket inside from Kourtney Brown. A Bushby lay-in off a coast-to-coast drive put Ohio up 16-13. Buffalo came back and took a two-point lead following a trey from Abby Dowd at the 9:58 mark.
Trailing 23-18, the `Cats came roaring back with a big 11-0 outburst behind back-to-back treys from Poff to take a 29-23 lead. The Bulls could still not be shaken, however, and ripped off a 5-0 run over the last 2:24 to make it 29-28 going into the lockerroom. Bushby paced the Green and White in the frame with 14 points and three blocks. Ohio shot 32 percent from the field, while Buffalo came in at a 42 percent clip and held the 23-19 advantage on the glass. Brown led the visitors with eight points.
Buckner scored four quick points to start the second half and gave Ohio a 33-28 lead. The Bulls' Chrissy Cooper knocked down a jumper to pull Buffalo back to within a point at 35-34. The Green and White struck right back with a 13-1 run behind three Poff treys to give Ohio a 47-35 lead with 11:40 left.
Brown made sure the `Cats would not roll away as she sparked a big Bull run with a pair of buckets to make it 49-45 with 6:59 left. A Dowd trey then pulled Buffalo to within a point. Ohio extended its lead to three following a pair of Bushby free throws. Brown continued to be a nuisance inside for the Green and White and kept the action tight. Her layup with 5:21 made the score 51-50.
Ohio was never able to get up by more than three over the next couple minutes. Following a Beth Christensen free throw for Buffalo with 2:34 left, the score was 55-53. Neither team was able to score over the next 2:14, before a pair of Poff freebies made it 57-53 with 20 seconds left.
Hedderson came down and converted on a three-point play to pull the Bulls back to within a point with 14 seconds left. Following a big free throw from Poff, Hedderson came back and knocked down her jumper with five seconds left to set the scene for Bushby's game winner.
Brown led Buffalo with a game-high 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Hedderson chipped in 10 points.
The `Cats will now wrap up the regular season Tuesday as they head to Akron to battle the Zips. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside James A. Rhodes Arena. Fans can also catch the action live on WOUB AM 1340 or at OhioBobcats.com.
