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ATHENS, Ohio -- The women's basketball team picked up their third win in a row Monday night (Nov. 29), as the Bobcats (3-2) defeated Florida A&M (0-4) by a score of 98-54. Point guard Cece Hooks led the Bobcats with 19 points, while four other Ohio players (Erica Johnson, Madi Mace, Gabby Burris, Yaya Felder) scored in double digits. Ohio shot 44.2% from the field (38 for 86), including 33.3% from deep (15 for 45). 

The game started slow, as both teams worked to find an rhythm offensively. The Bobcats managed to take an early 12-2 lead, including five straight points from Hooks, but the Rattlers defense settled in and allowed Florida A&M to cut the deficit to only four, 14-10, by the end of the frame. 

The second quarter began with the Rattlers taking their first lead of the game at 17-16 with 6:45 remaining in the half. Florida A&M held that lead until an Ella Pope three-pointer gave the Bobcats the lead back, 21-19 with 5:32 left. Ohio's offense then caught fire, as the Bobcats finished the half on a 21-3 run to head into the locker room with a 42-22 advantage. The burst came courtesy of a balanced attack by Ohio, with five different players scoring during the run. Madi Mace led the charge with eight points, followed by Erica Johnson (five points), Hooks (four), Pope (three), and Burris (two). 

Ohio finished the half having shot 37.2% from the field (16 for 43) and 20.8% from beyond the arc (5 for 28). Ohio's defense held the Rattlers to 31.0% from the field (9 for 29) and 25.0% from three (2 for 8). 

The Bobcats carried their offensive momentum into the third quarter, scoring 34 points on 13 of 22 shooting (57.1%), including 60% from beyond the arc (6 for 10). Three Ohio players (Hooks, Mace, Johnson) led the team in the quarter with six points each. 
 
 The final quarter of play saw the Bobcats extend their lead further, taking advantage of 10 for 22 shooting from the field (45.5%) and 5 for 12 (41.7%) from deep. A strong defensive effort by Ohio held the Rattlers to just seven points in the 4th quarter, as the Bobcats wrapped up their third victory of the season comfortably with a 98-45 win.

Along with a team-high 19 points, Hooks added six rebounds along with six assists. Johnson finished with 16 points, a team-high eight assists, and six rebounds. Mace scored a season-high 15 points while also reeling in five rebounds.  Gabby Burris and Yaya Felder rounded out the five Bobcat scorers who finished with double-digit points, scoring 14 and 11 points respectively.

Up Next:

Ohio will round out their homestand on Saturday, Dec. 4 with a game against Richmond. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.

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