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Box Score (PDF) 

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Ohio women's basketball team (9-6, 2-2 MAC) fell to Western Michigan (10-5, 3-1 MAC), 73-72, on Wednesday evening inside Read Fieldhouse/University Arena.

Junior guard Cece Hooks (Dayton, Ohio) led the way for Ohio with 28 points while adding six steals, five rebounds and two assists. Hooks was 12-of-29 from the field, knocked down one three-pointer and was 3-of-4 from the line. Hooks saw the floor for 39 minutes.

Redshirt sophomore guard Erica Johnson (Mansfield, Ohio) had 18 points on 5-of-11 shooting. Johnson made one three and was 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. She saw the floor for 31 minutes.

Junior forward Gabby Burris (Baltimore, Ohio) had eight points on 3-of-9 shooting and made one three. Redshirt junior Katie Barker (Cary, Ill.), senior guard Amani Burke (Columbus, Ohio) and sophomore forward Edecia Beck (Grand Rapids, Mich.) all had six points each.

Overall, Ohio was 25-of-62 (40.3 percent) from the field and 5-of-20 (25.0 percent) from the three-point line. The Bobcats held WMU to 25-of-56 (44.6 percent) shooting and 13-of-34 (38.2 percent) from deep. Ohio was 17-of-21 (81.0 percent) from the free-throw line while WMU was 10-of-13 (76.9 percent) from the charity stripe.

The Bobcats were outrebounded, 39-31, and had eight offensive rebounds as a team. Johnson led the way with nine boards and Beck pulled down six. Hooks produced five rebounds, Burris had four and Barker had three.

Ohio forced 19 turnovers and had 13 steals. Hooks had six swipes while Johnson and Burke had two apiece. The Bobcats had 25 points off turnovers while WMU had eight.

The Bobcats scored 34 points in the paint while WMU had just 20.

Ohio started the first quarter off with a Barker three, but WMU fired right back. Hooks hit an early three with 8:45 left in the first quarter to go up 6-3. Ohio's lead hovered around three until a WMU three-pointer with 2:00 remaining in the quarter cut the OU advantage to one. Ohio ended the quarter on a 5-0 run, capped by a Johnson jumper to end the quarter up 21-15.

WMU immediately tied the game with two threes with 7:32 left. Ohio got the lead back up to four with 6:03 left after Burke hit two free throws. WMU chipped away and grabbed a two-point lead with 1:22 left but Beck free throw, Hooks layup and Burke layup at the end of the quarter gave Ohio a 32-29 lead at the break.

Ohio was led by Hooks in the first half with 17 points. Johnson and Burke had four each while Burris and Barker each had three. Beck pulled down five boards in the first half. Ohio was 13-of-34 (38.2 percent) overall and 2-of-9 (22.2 percent) from deep.

WMU tied the game immediately in the second half and grabbed the lead with 8:56 left. Ohio was able to get the lead up to seven – its largest of the night – with 5:54 left in the third quarter after Burris hit a three. WMU came back and tied the game with 3:18 left in the quarter. Ohio took a one-point lead into the break, 53-52.

Ohio expanded its lead to four at 56-52 in the fourth quarter. WMU took the lead at 59-58 with 3:27 left on a layup. Ohio was able to get the lead back up to five with 5:31 remaining after Beck knocked down two free throws. WMU stormed back on an 8-0 run that was capped by a free throw from Leaigh Wool with 2:52 remaining.  Hooks tied the game at 69 each with 2:32 left and then grabbed Ohio the lead on a layup, 71-69. After WMU tied the game up, Hooks hit a free throw with 12 seconds left to give Ohio a 72-71 advantage. WMU hit the game-winning bucket with seven seconds left on a Wool layup. Hooks had a look to win the game inside the paint but missed as time expired.

Ohio was 12-of-28 (42.9 percent) from the field and 3-of-11 (27.3 percent) from the three-point line in the second half. Ohio was led by Johnson with 14 points and Hooks with 11. Wool had 17 points in the second half for WMU.

The Bobcats will continue Mid-American Conference play on Saturday inside the Convocation Center against Ball State. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.

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