Box Score FOLLOW OHIO WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Box Score (PDF)
ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball (8-4, 1-0 MAC) team began Mid-American Conference play with a win over Northern Illinois (4-8, 0-1 MAC), 87-67, on Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center.
"I thought we took good shots and the ball moved pretty well," head coach Bob Boldon said. "We had a decent amount assists and I thought the drives came at the right time. All of our guards did a good job of driving into space when it created itself and then we moved the ball and created good shots."
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.
"She (Erica Johnson) was locked in all day today and all week as well," Boldon added. "She wasn't alone, this team in general was excited to get conference play started. You're excited you're at home. I thought we had a nice crowd and I thought our kids came out with good energy."
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.
Junior forward Gabby Burris (Baltimore, Ohio) was one shy of her season-high with 16 points after shooting 6-of-12 with two made threes. Burris had seven rebounds, including three offensive boards.
Junior guard Cece Hooks (Dayton, Ohio) collected eight points, four assists, three steals and two boards, while redshirt junior guard Katie Barker (Cary, Ill.) made two threes for six points. Sophomore forward Deesh Beck (Grand Rapids, Mich.) also had six points, while graduate transfer Maddie Bazelak (Dayton, Ohio) made both of her shots for four points.
Overall, Ohio shot 31-of-67 (46.3 percent) from the field and a season-best 14-of-33 (42.4 percent) from behind the three point line. Ohio was red-hot in the first half, shooting 18-fo-32 (56.3 percent) overall and 9-of-17 (52.9 percent) from the three-point line. NIU was held to 23-of-54 (42.6 percent) shooting and 12-of-32 (37.5 percent) from deep.
The Bobcats forced 28 turnovers, including 18 in the first half alone. Beck led the way with four steals while Hooks and Kroll had three each. Johnson and Burke had two swipes while Barker and Burris had one. OU had 33 points off those turnovers.
After Burke started the first quarter off with a layup with 9:35 left in the first quarter, Ohio did not give up the lead again. Ohio started the game on a 7-0 run capped by a Johnson three, and jumped out to a 15-5 lead on a Beck free throw with 3:25 left in the quarter. Johnson hit a half-court heave at the end of the frame to go up 25-17.
The Bobcats started the second quarter up 11 after an early Burke triple. After the advantage was at 10, Barker, Burke, Johnson and Burris all hit threes to go up 42-35 with 5:31 and force an NIU timeout. The Bobcats were able to continue the run to 18-0 and go up 47-35 with 4:17 left in the quarter. Ohio took a 50-28 lead into the break.
Johnson led Ohio with 16 points in the first half while Burke had 15. Ohio was 18-of-32 from the field and knocked down nine three-pointers while forcing 18 turnovers.
Ohio maintained the lead in the third quarter, and was able to lead by as much by 26 with 1:29 left in the quarter after a Burris three. Ohio was up 68-44 at the end of the third period.
NIU and Ohio traded buckets in the fourth quarter until a Johnson three and Beck triple put Ohio up 29 with 5:17 left in the quarter. NIU went on a 10-2 run to end the quarter and Ohio won the game, 87-67.
OU was 13-of-35 in the second half and made five threes. Burris led the Bobcats with 11 points while Johnson and Burke had seven each.
The Bobcats are back in action against Central Michigan at The Convo on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.
#BleedGreen
