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BOX SCORE (PDF)

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – The Ohio (3-2, 1-1 MAC) women's basketball team fell to West Virginia (6-2, 0-2 Big 12), 88-79, on Monday afternoon at the WVU Coliseum.  

Ohio was led by senior guard Cece Hooks (Dayton, Ohio), who had 29 points on 10-of-23 shooting. Hooks was 9-of-11 from the free-throw line and added three rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Redshirt junior guard Erica Johnson (Mansfield, Ohio) added 27 points on 11-of-22 shooting. Johnson was 5-of-9 from the three-point line and recorded six rebounds and three assists.

"I thought both Cece (Hooks) and Erica (Johnson) did a tremendous job of controlling the game for us," head coach Bob Boldon said. "Their shot selection was fantastic. Cece (Hooks) got guarded by post players to start with, they tried to guard her with length and they tried to guard her with speed, and she was really good at taking what they gave her. I thought Erica (Johnson) was really good at directing and getting the ball where she wanted to get the ball."

Hooks now has 33 20+ point games in her career, while Johnson now has 25. Both have posted 20 or more points four times this season. Hooks is now averaging a Mid-American Conference best 25.6 points per game.

Senior forward Gabby Burris (Baltimore, Ohio) added 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting and 3-of-7 from the three-point line.

"She (Gabby Burris) was spectacular today," Boldon added. "That was one of the best games she's ever played at Ohio. I know she's scored more in other games, but she was being guarded by one of the best post players in the Big 12. She made threes when they gave her threes and took layups when they gave her layups. Her ball screen coverage the last two games has been the best of her career defensively."

Redshirt junior guard Caitlyn Kroll (Bridgeport, Ohio) and redshirt freshman guard Madi Mace (Parkersburg, W. Va.) each had three points, while redshirt junior guard Jasmine Hale (Cincinnati, Ohio) had two points each. Kroll added a season-high nine rebounds, one short of her career-high she set at St. Francis (PA).

"I thought Jasmine (Hale) came in and gave us a great spark and made a couple of plays," Boldon said. "Peyton (Guice) didn't have the opportunity to score like at NIU but defensively she was fantastic. Madi (Mace) got off to a slow start but did a great job of rebounding and righting herself. She's a competitor."

Ohio was 29-of-65 (44.6 percent) from the field and 10-of-25 (40.0) percent from the three-point line. WVU was 33-of-62 (53.2 percent) overall and 7-of-18 (38.9 percent) from deep. Ohio was 11-of-14 (78.6 percent) from the free-throw line while West Virginia was 15-of-23 (65.2 percent). 

OU was outrebounded 37-34 and pulled down 11 offensive rebounds. Kroll pace Ohio with nine, while Johnson had six rebounds. Mace had five boards while Hooks, Burris and Guice each had three.

Ohio had nine assists, with Johnson and Hooks each posting three.

The Bobcats forced 13 turnovers and had five steals. Hooks had two swipes, while Guice, Burris and Hale each had one. Ohio had 16 points off of turnovers compared to WVU's 11.

The Bobcats were up 42-30 at halftime, after shooting 16-of-31 (51.6 percent) from the field and 6-of-15 (40.0 percent) from three. Ohio's biggest lead of the game came at the 3:08 mark in the second quarter, when OU led by 16. West Virginia cut the lead to 57-56 at the end of the third quarter and won the game, 88-79.

Ohio will continue Mid-American Conference play on January 2 at home against Central Michigan. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. 

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