Feb. 3, 2010
Final Stats
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Jenny Poff scored a team-high 14 points, but Western Michigan's Miame Giden tallied 17 of her game-high 21 points in the second half to boost the Broncos past the `Cats 51-47 on the road in Kalamazoo.
Ohio (6-16, 2-7 MAC) forced WMU into 23 turnovers and held its fourth-straight Mid-American Conference squad under 60 points, but the Broncos (6-16, 1-8 MAC) took advantage of Green and White turnovers with 25 points off those miscues. The `Cats won the battle on the boards, outrebounding WMU 35-30, including 15 on the offensive glass. Ohio finished the game shooting 32 percent from the field.
Poff's (St. John's, Mich.) 14 paced Ohio, while she also added four rebounds, four assists and four steals, tying a season high. Carolyn Barnett (North Chicago, Ill.) scored 11 points, including 3-for-5 from distance, off the bench, while Jennifer Bushby tallied six points, six rebounds and three assists.
Defense ruled the first few minutes of the game as the two teams combined for five points over the first 4:43 of play. The Broncos held a 4-1 lead with 15:17 left in the half. Ohio ripped off a big 15-4 run over the next 6:37 of play to take a 16-8 lead.
WMU would not go away and stormed back with a 9-4 run to pull within 20-17 with 3:20 left in the half. Things stayed much the same the rest of the way with the `Cats taking a 22-19 lead into the lockerroom. Ohio finished the half shooting 34 percent from the field, while WMU came in at a 36 percent.
The Broncos opened the second half on a 9-2 run to take a 28-24 lead with 15:17 left. A Poff trey tied the action at 30 apiece with 13:45 left. Action stayed tight over the next few minutes of play, with the `Cats clinging to a 39-37 lead after a lay-in by Gholson.
An old-fashioned three-point play gave WMU a 42-39 lead with 6:21 left. The Broncos took a five point lead with 3:40 left. WMU went up by seven with 1:53 left, before Bushby answered with a trey nine seconds later to cut it to four. Giden answered with a trey of her own to push the lead back to seven, before Barnett responded with her third triple to make it 51-47 with 21 seconds left. The `Cats didn't have enough time the rest of the way as WMU took the win.
Giden's game-high 21 points led the Broncos, while Ebony Cleary chipped in 10 points.
Ohio will be back in action Saturday when it welcomes Toledo to the Convo for its Pink Zone game. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a free pink t-shirt.
