Feb. 6, 2010

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ATHENS, Ohio - Jennifer Bushby became just the 13th player in Ohio history to reach 1,000 points for her career, but Toledo spoiled the fun with a 76-54 win in the Bobcats' Pink Zone game Saturday in the Convo. Bushby led all scorers with a game-high 16 points.

Following a pair of 3-pointers to open her scoring, Bushby hit a jumper at the top of the key with 7:06 left in the first half to reach the 1,000-point plateau. The Gahanna, Ohio, native now has 1,008 points for her career and is one of just two players in school history to reach 1,000 points, 300 assists and 150 steals for her career, joining Laura Reding (1987-91) as the other.

Despite shooting a solid 40 percent from the field on the afternoon, the `Cats (6-17, 2-8 MAC) were unable to overcome one of the Mid-American Conference's best and highest scoring teams, Toledo. The Green and White also struggled from the charity line, where it finished just 8-of-20 on the day. The Rockets (18-5, 8-2 MAC), meanwhile, shot an even 50 percent from the field and outrebounded Ohio 38-31.

In addition to her 16 points, Bushby added four rebounds and a team-high three assists. Kamille Buckner (Chicago, Ill.) turned a solid eight points and seven rebounds, while Jenny Poff (St. John's, Mich.) chipped in eight points of her own and extended her streak to 15-consecutive games with a 3-pointer. Freshman Tina Fisher (Cottage Grove, Minn.) nabbed a career-best three steals to lead Ohio on the defensive end. Sophomore Danielle Woodmore (Louisville, Ky.) and Symone Lyles (Silver Spring, Md.) turned in nice efforts off the bench, with Woodmore picking up six points and a pair of helpers and Lyles tying her career-high five points.

Ashley Fowler (Cincinnati, Ohio) began the afternoon's scoring with a drive down the lane, fighting through contact for a contested lay-in over a group of Toledo defenders. The `Cats rebounded well early on, grabbing five boards in the first few moments of the contest.

With a 9-8 lead 5:48 into the contest, the Rockets went on an 18-8 run over the next 6:23 to grab a 27-16 advantage. Bushby (Gahanna, Ohio) put a stop to this run by hitting a step-back jumper with 7:06 remaining. This two-point basket cemented the decorated senior's place in the Bobcat record books, as it put her squarely at 1,000 career points.

The Green and White stormed back over the next few moments, putting together an 11-4 run to pull within four points near the end of the first half. However, a late surge by the Rockets, one in which they scored the last six points of the half, put the score at 37-27 in favor of the visitors at the halftime buzzer.

Both teams shot well in the first half, as Toledo was operating at a 47 percent clip and the `Cats were not far behind with a 41 percent mark. The Rockets outrebounded Ohio, 20-15, and were led by Lisa Johnson's 11 points on five-of-six shooting from the floor. Bushby led all `Cat scorers with 11 points in the first frame and Kamille Buckner (Chicago, Ill.) pulled down four rebounds.

The Rockets jumped out to a fast start in the second half, outscoring Ohio 11-4 before Poff hit a 3-pointer from the corner to slow them down.

Ohio found itself in foul trouble early on the in the second half, as the Rockets were in the bonus with 13:31 remaining in the game. Toledo went ahead 53-36 following a trey, but the `Cats would not go away and pulled back to 55-41 following a Lyles lay-in with 9:50 left. Unfortunately, the Rockets continued their hot shooting while also making Ohio pay from the free throw line as they kept their lead the rest of the way before taking the 76-54 win.

Four Toledo players scored in double figures, led by Lisa Johnson's 13 points and Tanika Mays' 12.

As part of the Pink Zone initiative to raise awareness and donations for breast cancer, Ohio was clad in the signature pink and white uniforms. The first 500 fans in attendance were treated to a free pink Ohio women's basketball t-shirt as well.

The `Cats will now wrap up their swing through the MAC West as they head to DeKalb, Ill. Wednesday to battle Northern Illinois. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET in NIU's Convocation Center.