Jan. 12, 2012
Box Score
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Ohio Women's Basketball turned in a gritty performance on Thursday night in Bowling Green but wasn't quite able to get past a strong Falcon team, losing by a final score of 61-49. Tenishia Benson led the way for the Green and White, scoring 13 points.
Ohio (8-9, 1-2 Mid-American Conference) leapt out to a fast start, taking a 6-2 lead thanks to four quick points by Shavon Robinson. Bowling Green was able to answer back, however, going on a 13-3 run to grab a 15-9 lead at the 12:45 mark. The Bobcats kept battling to prevent this advantage from getting too large, pulling within two (15-13) with just over ten minutes remaining in the first frame.
The Green and White kept up their scrappy play, forcing Bowling Green (13-3, 3-0 MAC) into six early turnovers en route to taking a 23-21 advantage with 3:40 to play in the first half. Erin Bailes (Huntington, W.Va.) played very well during this stretch, scoring five points on 2-of-3 shooting. Her three pointer with 3:56 remaining in the first half broke a streak of eight games without a successful attempt.
Alexis Rogers led a late first-half charge for the Falcons, scoring three points in the final 80 seconds to help her side to a 28-25 halftime advantage. The Falcon defense forced Ohio in 12 first-half turnovers, a high figure which is more the exception than the rule for the Bobcats, as the team has taken very good care of the ball during the past few games.
Both teams shot at a solid clip in the first 20 minutes, with Ohio connecting on 10-of-24 shots (41.7 percent) and Bowling Green operating at a pace of 12-of-28 (42.9 percent). The Falcons held a 20-10 edge in points in the paint while the Bobcats scored five bench points to BG's two.
Bowling Green came out hot to start the second half, opening up a 6-0 run to take a 34-25 lead. Quick baskets by Jessica Slagle, Chrissy Steffen and Rogers put the Bobcats in a tough spot. Ohio then scored eight of the next 11 points to pull within four (37-33) around the 15:22 mark.
A nice string of offensive play by Symone Lyles (Silver Spring, Md.), Tina Fisher (Cottage Grove, Minn.) and Benson pulled the `Cats within just four points (46-42) with 8:50 to play. Unfortunately for Ohio, Bowling Green answered back with a run of its own, scoring the next ten points to hold one of its largest advantages of the game.
Two free throws by Robinson and a three pointer from Lyles proved to be Ohio's final points of the game, as the Falcons closed things out from there.
The Bobcats will next be in action on Sunday, Jan. 15 when the rival Miami RedHawks come to town. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. with the game being broadcast live on SportsTime Ohio, ESPN3 and ESPN Full Court.
