FOLLOW OHIO WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Box Score (PDF)

KENT, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball team (17-11, 10-7 MAC) fell to Kent State (18-10, 11-6 MAC), 81-77, on Wednesday evening at the M.A.C. Center.

Redshirt sophomore guard Erica Johnson (Mansfield, Ohio) had a career-high 36 points. Johnson was 15-of-30 from the field and 3-of-10 from the three-point line. Johnson added three rebounds, two assists and two steals. 25 of Johnson's 36 points came in the first half.

"I always like watching our kids do that well and Erica (Johnson) certainly did," head coach Bob Boldon said. "Our kids are all fighting different things and when they come out and play like that it makes it feel like all that hard work was worth it. She was 10-of-11 in the first half, which is amazing. Besides the 25 first half points, but she was efficient and we preach efficiency and love when it works out that way. Just like with Cece (Hooks) a few games ago with her 41 points, I just wish we can get these kids some wins with these kinds of individual performances."

Redshirt sophomore guard Caitlyn Kroll (Bridgeport, Ohio) gave Ohio a 77-76 lead with 13 seconds left on a corner three. Kent State was sent to the free throw line and retook the lead with eight seconds left. KSU made three more free throws to win, 81-77.

Senior guard Amani Burke (Columbus, Ohio) had 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting and knocked down four free throws. Burke added five rebounds. Junior guard Cece Hooks (Dayton, Ohio) had 12 points for Ohio and was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line.

Kroll had six points while sophomore forward Edecia Beck (Grand Rapids, Mich.) had five points. Junior forward Gabby Burris (Baltimore, Ohio) had four points and 11 rebounds.

Overall, Ohio shot 27-of-66 (40.9 percent) overall and 4-of-20 (20.0 percent) from the three-point line. The Bobcats were 19-of-23 (82.6 percent) from the free throw line. KSU was 23-of-56 (41.1 percent) overall, 7-of-25 (28.0 percent) from three and 28-of-35 (80.0 percent) from the charity stripe.

Each team pulled down 37 rebounds. Ohio had 18 offensive boards. Burris' 11 tied her career-high which she set earlier this season at Central Michigan. Kroll added six rebounds, including three on the offensive end. Burke had five, Beck and Hooks had four while Johnson had three. The Bobcats scored 17 second-chance points while KSU had 12.

Ohio forced 16 turnovers and had 10 steals. Hooks led Ohio with four swipes while Johnson and Beck each had two. OU had 19 points off turnovers.

The Bobcats started the game down 7-0 but Ohio was able to tie the game at 11-11 on a Burris layup. Ohio's biggest lead of the night came at 20-14 after two Johnson free throws. Kent State came back and ended the quarter up 26-23. Ohio outscored KSU 16-11 in the second quarter and took the lead at 39-37 on a Johnson three with 48 seconds left.

Johnson had a game-high 25 points in the first half, with 18 of those coming in the first quarter. Johnson was 10-of-11 from the field and 2-of-3 from deep.

Kent State started the third quarter on a 13-0 run and took a 51-40 lead. KSU ended the quarter up 62-51 after outscoring Ohio, 25-12.

Ohio stormed back in the fourth quarter and got the lead down to 62-60 with 5:16 left after two Hooks free throws. The KSU lead hovered around six until a Beck bucket and two hooks free throws with 2:04 left made it 72-70. Both teams traded buckets until Kroll gave Ohio the lead on a three with 13 seconds left at 77-76. KSU regained the lead with two free throws and went on to win, 81-77.

Ohio will wrap up the regular season on Saturday, March 7 at home against Miami. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.

#BleedGreen