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OHIO WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 2021-22 • GAME 8
December 20, 2021
1 p.m ET | Ohio (4-3) vs. UMass Lowell (3-5) | Ocean Bank Convocation Center | Miami, Fla. | Live Stats | Game Notes 

MIAMI, Fla. -- The Ohio women's basketball team will look to get back to their winning ways on Monday afternoon (Dec. 20), as the Bobcats start play at the FIU Holiday Hoops Showdown. The first game for Ohio (4-3) will match them up against the UMass Lowell River Hawks (3-5). Tip off inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center is scheduled for 1 p.m. This is the first time the two teams will play each other. 

Ohio's last game out was a closely contested ballgame on the road against Minnesota, with Ohio being defeated narrowly by the Golden Gophers, 99-93. All five starters for the Bobcats scored in double figures, with Erica Johnson leading the way with 21 points, followed by Cece Hooks who logged a second consecutive double-double, with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
 

SCOUTING THE RIVER HAWKS
UMass Lowell will play their first game since Dec. 8 when they take the court against the Bobcats, due to a COVID pause by their planned opponent on Dec. 11. The River Hawks average 56 points per game and are led offensively by Jaliena Sanchez, who scores 14 points per game.

ANOTHER FIRST
The matchup between the Bobcats and River Hawks is the first between the two schools. This marks the second time this season that Ohio will take on an opponent for the first time in program history, with the other coming in their game against Mercyhurst in late November. Ohio won that game, 90-46.

CAREER DAYS IN MINNEAPOLIS
Kaylee Bambule set a career high in points scored (18), total field goals made (6), and three pointers made (6) in the Bobcats game against Minnesota. Madi Mace matched her career high with 16 points against the Golden Gophers.

OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
The Bobcats have scored 90 or more points in their last four games, including 98 points in two of those previous matchups (Florida A&M, Richmond). This high-powered offensive output has vaulted the Bobcats to the top of the Mid-American Conference in scoring offense, with 83.4 points per game.

RARE COMPANY
Redshirt-junior Erica Johnson is one of only four Division I players to average 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game so far this season, joining Paige Bueckers (UConn), Caitlin Clark (Iowa), and Jennifer Coleman (Navy).

WARM WELCOME BACK TO THE CONVO
Ohio returned to action on the Convocation Center floor in front of fans for the first time since the 2019-20 season when the Bobcats took on Mercyhurst on Nov. 20. Cece Hooks and Erica Johnson each scored 21 points to help lead Ohio to a convincing 90-46 victory. Freshman guard Yaya Felder made her first start in a Bobcat uniform, scoring 10 points and grabbing a team- high 8 rebounds.

DYNAMIC DUO
Cece Hooks and Erica Johnson led the Bobcats to their first win of the 2021-22 season against Cincinnati. Hooks contributed 21 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 assists, while Johnson led the team with 27 points, along with 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals.

RUN IT BACK
The Bobcats return all five starters and nearly all bench players from their 2020-21 team that made it to the semifinals of the MAC Tournament and played in the WNIT as well.

CECE CONTINUES RECORD-SETTING CAREER Senior point guard Cece Hooks returns for another season after testing the WNBA draft process after last season. She averaged a MAC- best 25.1 points/game en route to winning MAC Player of the Year last season

RECORDS REWRITTEN?
Cece Hooks sits in second place all-time for several career records, including total points scored, points per game, field goals made, free throws made, and free throws attempted. She set a new school record for field goals attempted (1,783) in the season opener against Notre Dame. Erica Johnson and Gabby Burris can also already be found in the Ohio women's basketball record book, and aim to move up the ranks this season.

PRESEASON ALL-MAC PICKS
As a team, Ohio was picked to win the regular season Mid-American Conference title, picking up 132 total votes and four first-place votes. The Bobcats also had Cece Hooks and Erica Johnson picked to the preseason All-MAC First Team.

BECKY HAMMON PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Cece Hooks was selected to 2022 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player Of The Year watch list, her second year in a row earning this recognition.

CHERYL MILLER PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Erica Johnson also earned preseason recognition, being added to the Cheryl Miller watch list, an award given to the best small forward.

CECE'S RECORDS

CAREER
- Steals, first (436)

- Scoring, second (2,344)

- Points per game, second (18.4)

- Field goals made, second (888)

- Assists, fourth (425)

SEASON
- Points per game, 25.1, first, 2020-21

- Field goals made, 239, second, 2020-21

- Steals, 110, first, 2018-19

- Steals, 106, second, 2019-20

- Steals, 100, third, 2017-18

- Steals, 94, fourth, 2020-21

2,000 POINT SCORER
Cece Hooks became the second player in program history to eclipse 2,000 career points last season, doing so in a victory over Ball State on February 10.

1,000 POINT SCORERS
Two Bobcats - Gabby Burris, Erica Johnson -- are 1,000 point scorers for Ohio.

Burris averaged 13.6 points per game last season, Johnson was second on the team with 18.1.

LAST YEAR'S HONORS
For the third-straight year, Cece Hooks was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Hooks was also named the MAC Player of the Year, was a member of the All-MAC first team, and an All-American Honorable Mention last season.

Erica Johnson was named to the All-MAC Third Team, after going 41-of-125 from behind the three-point line in just 14 games and recording double-digit points in every game she appeared in.

Gabby Burris earned All-MAC Honorable Mention recognition after last season, after leading the team in free-throw percentage (81.8%) and shooting 45.1% from the field overall.

Madi Mace was chosen for the All-Freshman team after playing in all 20 games throughout the season and averaging 8 points per game while shooting 41.4% from the field.

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