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Box Score (PDF)

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – After trailing 39-28 at halftime and 55-48 at the end of the third quarter, the Ohio women's basketball team (8-4, 6-3 MAC) stormed back to take down Western Michigan (2-8, 1-7 MAC), 69-63, on Saturday afternoon at Reed Fieldhouse. 

"I think we've shown a lot of growth over the last week," head coach Bob Boldon said. "Coming off the Buffalo come from behind win, we had to drive for several hours to play a noon game on Saturday and it was a quick turnaround against a good team. WMU shot 46 percent from three today, and we had to decide to quit or fight back. We fought back and showed some toughness. We methodically got stops, made shots and put some runs together to get the win."

Senior guard Cece Hooks posted the fourth-highest scoring output in program history after scoring 38 points on 14-of-23 shooting, tying Kiyanna Black. Hooks is also Ohio's single-game scoring record holder at 41, when she tied Marlene Stollings at Akron last season. Hooks is also the second-highest scorer in program history with 1,879 points in her career, behind only Caroline Mast (2,449).

"Cece (Hooks) was fantastic tonight and she scored the ball efficiently," Boldon added. She rebounded the ball and was +19 on the floor. That +19 a huge number and nobody else was even close to that number. Everything she did today was fantastic, and she didn't turn the ball over once. Cece did a great job of leading the team, taking the pressure of Erica (Johnson) not being on the floor and willing us to win."

Hooks added eight rebounds, three assists and three blocks in 32 minutes on the floor.

WMU's biggest lead was 14 points with 9:49 left in the third quarter. Ohio was down 10 in the fourth frame and was able to cut the lead to 58-55 on a 7-0 run early in the fourth. After chipping away at the WMU advantage, redshirt junior guard Kaylee Bambule (Plainfield, Ill.) knocked down a three with 3:08 left in the fourth quarter to put Ohio up 62-60. WMU tied the game at 63-all with 1:43 remaining, but Ohio ended the game on a 6-0 run to win it.

"Kaylee (Bambule) showed a lot of mental toughness tonight," Boldon said. "To be able to put missed shots behind you is hard, and she had the mental fortitude to knock down those shots. She put in her time and has gotten better since she stepped on campus. She's prepared for her time. She does her job and she stays ready. This week she's been fantastic."

Bambule ended the game 3-of-8 from the three-point line for nine points, and added one steal late in the fourth quarter.

Senior forward Gabby Burris (Baltimore, Ohio) had nine points and eight rebounds. Redshirt freshman guard Madi Mace (Parkersburg, W. Va.) added seven points and eight rebounds.

Ohio forced 18 turnovers and only turned the ball over eight times. The Bobcats had 12 steals, with redshirt junior guard Caitlyn Kroll (Bridgeport, Ohio) swiping the ball a game-high five times.

Hooks, Burris and Mace all led Ohio with eight boards each.

The Bobcats will continue Mid-American Conference play on Wednesday, January 27 at Eastern Michigan. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET.

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