Women's Basketball 1/10/2020 12:00:00 AM

Ohio Women's Basketball Hits the Road to Face Buffalo on Saturday

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BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Ohio women's basketball team (8-5, 1-1 MAC) hits the road to face Buffalo (10-3, 1-1 MAC) on Saturday at Alumni Arena at 2 p.m.

The game can be seen live on ESPN3, while the game can be heard live on WOUB 1340 AM and OhioBobcats.com with Jake Hromada on the call.

SERIES HISTORY

Ohio is 19-23 all-time against Buffalo. Ohio and UB met three times last season, with OU going 1-2 in that series. The two teams last met in the MAC Tournament Title game last season, when Buffalo won, 77-61. Ohio took down Buffalo in the 2018-19 MAC opener last season in overtime, 74-71. Hooks had 21 points for Ohio while Burris had 15 points.

ALL-TIME STEALS RECORD

Junior Cece Hooks has 255 steals in her career, giving her the all-time steals record at Ohio. Hooks set the record in Ohio's game against Butler on Nov. 30.

Hooks season-high in steals is seven, which she set at Texas.

STEALS RANKINGS

Cece Hooks is No. 12 in the country and first in the MAC in steals per game at 3.46. Stephanie Karcz of Loyola leads the nation with 6.14. Hooks is No. 15 and first in the MAC in total steals with 45 Karcz is also the nation's leader at 86.

TWO POWER FIVE WINS

Ohio has defeated two Power Five teams this season, Pittsburgh and Ohio State. Ohio has not done this in the regular season since 1994-95 when OU beat Virginia Tech and Michigan in non-conference play. Ohio also beat Indiana and Virginia Tech in 2014-15, but the win over the Hokies was in the WNIT.

DISHING IT OUT

Erica Johnson is No. 63 in the country and second in the MAC in assists per game at 4.7. Johnson has had five or more assists in eight contests with her high of 11 against American, where she had a triple-double.

THREE POINTERS

Ohio is ranked No. 23 in the nation and third in the MAC in three-point field goals made per game at 8.6. FGCU is the nation's leader at 12.7 made per game while Bowling Green leads the MAC at 9.3.

On the defensive side, Ohio forces opponents to shoot at a 28.1 percent clip, the lowest in the MAC and No. 74 in the nation.

FIRST TRIPLE-DOUBLE EVER

Erica Johnson recorded the first triple-double in program history after 24 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists in Ohio's win over American. Johnson's triple-double was the first in Ohio history and the 13th in Mid-American Conference history. A player has not recorded a triple-double in the MAC since 2016, when Crystal Bradford from Central Michigan recorded the feat. Johnson's 11 assists was a career-high, while she was two points shy of her career best. Johnson was 10-of-16 from the field and 4-of-6 from the three-point line in 35 minutes of play.

SECOND-BEST DEFENSE IN THE MAC

Ohio has the second-best scoring defense in the MAC this season at 63.3 points per game allowed. Ohio's season-best defensive effort was against UIW when OU won, 78-41. Ohio has allowed less than 60 points five times this season.

MOVING UP THE CAREER RECORD BOOK

CECE HOOKS
- Scoring (9th, 1,243)
- Field Goals Made (7th, 476)
- Steals (1st, 255)
- Free Throws Made (7th, 267)

AMANI BURKE
- Scoring (8th, 1,289)
- Three-Point Field Goals Made (4th, 207)
- Blocks (9th, 51)

BEAT OHIO STATE

Ohio had never defeated Ohio State before Nov. 17. The Bobcats went to Columbus and won 74-68. Ohio was led by Columbus native and senior guard Amani Burke, who had 23 points after going 6-of-19 and 3-of-9 from deep. Burke was a stellar 8-of-9 from the free throw line. Burke had five rebounds and added two assists.

Redshirt sophomore guard Erica Johnson (Mansfield, Ohio) was the game changer in the second half. Johnson had her second double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 rebounds and added six assists. Johnson was 1-of-8 in the first half with two points but came out in the second half and shot 5-of-6, including a perfect 4-of-4 from deep, with nine rebounds.

Junior guard Cece Hooks had 15 points and eight rebounds on the night. Hooks was 6-of-11 from the field and 3-of-7 from the free throw line.

Overall Ohio was 23-of-60 (38.3 percent) from the field and 8-of-24 (33.3 percent) from behind the three point line. Ohio State was held to 25-of-69 (36.2 percent) from the field and 4-of-21 (19.0 percent) from behind the arc.

1-0 iN THE MAC

Ohio started MAC play with a win over NIU, 87-67. Redshirt sophomore guard Erica Johnson (Mansfield, Ohio) led the way on 9-of-13 shooting for 23 points. Johnson was 5-of-9 from the three-point line and pulled down eight rebounds, added five assists and came up with two steals in 26 minutes on the floor. Senior guard Amani Burke (Columbus, Ohio) had her fourth 20+ scoring output of the season and 12th of her career after going 7-of-14 from the floor and 4-of-8 from deep for 22 points. Burke added three boards and two assists and was +22 in 29 minutes in the game.

10TH MOST STEALS EVER

Ohio had 19 steals in the win over UIW, which is the 10th most in school history for a single game. Senior guard Amani Burke and sophomore forward Deesh Beck (Grand Rapids, Mich.) each had four steals while redshirt sophomore guard Erica Johnson and junior forward Gabby Burris (Baltimore, Ohio) had three swipes each. The Bobcats forced 27 total turnovers in the win.

1,000 POINT SCORERS

Cece Hooks and Amani Burke have already scored 1,000 points in their career after hitting the mark last season. Hooks was the second-fastest ever to reach the mark.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

After 30 points against Butler and 13 in a win over Pitt, Amani Burke was named MAC East Division Player of the Week. Burke was 9-of-20 from behind the arc during the Daytona Beach Invitational. Burke started the weekend with 13 points and six rebounds in Ohio's second power five win of the season when they defeated Pittsburgh, 72-50. In Ohio's game against Butler, Burke was 11-of-22 and knocked down six threes for 30 points, just missing her career-high of 33. Burke had 43 total points, 10 rebounds, six assists and eight steals in the Daytona Beach Invitational.

ANOTHER PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Johnson won her first MAC East Player of the Week award and the third of her career after the first week of play. Johnson had a triple-double against American and she added 13 points against No. 21 Syracuse. Johnson knocked down seven threes.

BATTLE OF THE (BASKETBALL) BELL

Ohio took down Marshall, 67-51, for their second win of the season. Katie Barker knocked down a season-high six threes for 18 points while Gabby Burris and Amani Burke each had 12.

FIRST WIN

Ohio earned its first win of the season over American, 81-69. Beyond Johnson's triple-double, Cece Hooks had 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Caitlyn Kroll had a breakout performance with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

NANCY LIEBERMAN POINT GUARD OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST

Cece Hooks was named to the Basketball Hall of Fame Nancy Lieberman award watch list. The award recognizes the top point guard in NCAA Division I basketball. Hooks is one of two Mid-American Conference players on the list. Lauren Dickerson from Miami joins Hooks from the MAC.

PICKED TO WIN THE MAC

Ohio was picked as the favorite in the League in the MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. OU was selected as the regular season, east division and tournament champion. Ohio earned all 12 of the MAC East Division first place votes and finished with 72 points. Ohio received all 12 votes to win the 2020 MAC regular season title and 10 votes to win the 2020 MAC Tournament. Buffalo and Northern Illinois also received one vote to win the MAC Tournament.

PRESEASON ALL-MAC

Cece Hooks and Erica Johnson were named preseason All-MAC East. Hooks appears on the preseason All-MAC East team for the second-straight season. Hooks was the MAC Defensive Player of the Year last season and was also first-team All-MAC, MAC All-Defensive team and MAC All-Tournament team. Hooks broke her own single season steals record last season when she finished with 112, and is Ohio's 16th 1,000-point scorer, becoming the second-fastest to hit that mark. She was also named to the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year watch list.

Johnson was the 2018-19 MAC Freshman and Sixth Player of the Year and was also third-team All-MAC and a member of the MAC All-Freshman team. Johnson averaged 13.9 points per game last year and shot 41.9 percent. Johnson had a career-high 26 points and a career-high 16 rebounds against Northern Illinois on the road.

2019 AWARDS

Cece Hooks was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year, All-MAC First Team and All-MAC Tournament Team last season. Hooks was the second Bobcat to win MAC Defensive Player of the Year, joining Quiera Lampkins of 2016. Hooks broke her own steals record with 112.

Erica Johnson was MAC Freshman of the Year as well as MAC Sixth Player of the Year. Johnson was also Third Team All-MAC. Johnson gave Ohio its second-straight MAC Freshman of the Year award and she is now the fourth Bobcat to win it. Hooks won the award in 2018, Rachel Frederick in 2006 and Caroline Mast in 1983. Johnson also won the MAC Sixth Player of the Year award, becoming the second Bobcat to take home that honor as Simone Redd won it in 2005. Johnson was also named to the MAC All-Freshman Team.

Amani Burke was Third-team All-MAC for the first time in her career.

REWRITING THE RECORD BOOK - TEAM RECORDS

Ohio set a multitude of team records last season. The Bobcats' 30 wins in 2018-19 were the most by any basketball program in Ohio history.

The 341 three-pointers made by Ohio in 2018-19 was the most in school and MAC history.

Ohio's 12-straight wins was the best start in program history and the second-best streak in program history.

The Bobcats 2,746 points scored were the most for a season, surpassing the mark by 415.

The 2,222 field goals attempted in 2018-19 were the highest total in program history.

Ohio's 376 steals were a program record, surpassing the 2017-18 season by 10 steals.

REWRITING THE RECORD BOOK - INDIVIDUAL RECORDS

Cece Hooks' 636 points is fourth-most in program history while her 251 field goals made was a program record in 2018-19.

Amani Burke's 91 three pointers made were a program record.

Hooks' 110 steals broke her own record by 10 steals.

Burke's 11 threes against Ball State was tied the MAC record for threes made and set the Ohio record.

RETURNING SCORING

Ohio returns 80 percent of their scoring in a season that saw them score a school record 2,746 points. Ohio lost Dominique Doseck (10.0 PPG), Olivia Bower (3.9 PPG) and Kendall Jessing (1.8 PPG).

NEWCOMERS

Some new faces will see the floor at The Convo this season.

Caitlyn Kroll is a redshirt sophomore who sat out last season due to the NCAA transfer rules. As a freshman at St. Francis, Kroll was the Northeast Conference Newcomer of the Year and averaged 13.4 points per game.

Freshman Peyton Guice is a newcomer from Westerville South high school. Guice was second-team All-Ohio Capital Conference as a senior in high school.

Redshirt freshman Abby Garnett sat out last year. Garnett was two-time All-Colorado in high school.

Graduate transfer Maddie Bazelak comes to Ohio after spending four years playing volleyball at Duquesne. On the volleyball court, Bazelak recorded 743 kills and 748 digs in four seasons with the Dukes. She had a career-high 269 kills in 2016 and 150 or more in her final three seasons. Bazelak had 225 or more digs in her final three seasons. In high school, she was the 2015 Ohio basketball player of the year.

Sophomore Jasmine Hale is a transfer from Wisconsin and will sit out one season due to NCAA transfer rules.

Freshman Ella Pope was second-team All-Utah in 2017 and 2018 and was a state runner-up in high school.

MEET THE COACHING STAFF

Tavares Jackson has been an assistant coach on Bob Boldon's Ohio staff for seven years. Marwan Miller is in his fourth season on Boldon's staff as an assistant coach and fifth overall after serving as the program's director of operations for the 2013-14 and '14-15 seasons.

Steph Haas is in her second year as an assistant coach after spending the last two seasons at Florida Gulf Coast as a video coordinator following a four-year playing career with the Eagles. Tia Jameson is in her fourth season as Ohio's director of operations. Ohio familiar face will be on the Ohio bench as a graduate assistant this season as Kiyanna Black returns to the Bobcats following a stellar playing career in Athens in which she racked up 1,724 career points -- the third-most in the history of the program.

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