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Box Score (PDF)

ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio women's basketball team (10-5, 8-4 MAC) took down Kent State (5-3, 4-1 MAC) at home, 85-70, on Wednesday evening at the Convocation Center. 

"We're starting to win because we're playing together as a team," head coach Bob Boldon said. "That's really exciting. We're beginning to become better than the sum of our parts. To see that growth is very exciting."

Ohio was led by senior guard Cece Hooks (Dayton, Ohio), who had 29 points, nine assists, seven steals, six rebounds in 34 minutes on the floor before fouling out with 5:51 remaining. Hooks is averaging 30.1 points per game in her last six outings.

Senior forward Gabby Burris (Baltimore, Ohio) posted a season-high 22 points and five rebounds. Burris was 6-of-12 from the field and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. Burris made nine-straight free-throws down the stretch to seal the game for the Bobcats.

"Gabby was fantastic down the stretch," Boldon added. "She was great at rebounding, guarding and making free throws."

Redshirt junior guard Jasmine Hale (Cincinnati, Ohio) produced a career-high 12 points and was +14 in 22 minutes on the floor. Hale was 5-of-7 from the floor and made one three while adding four rebounds.

"I thought the minutes (Jasmine) Hale gave us tonight were great," Boldon said. "Our confidence in her is very high."

Overall, Ohio shot 30-of-61 (49.2 percent) from the field, 6-of-24 (25.0 percent) and 19-of-25 (76.0 percent) from the free-throw line. The Bobcats held Kent State to 27-of-63 (42.9 percent) shooting and 8-of-27 (29.6 percent) from deep.

The Bobcats outrebounded Kent State 37-33, with 10 boards coming on the offensive glass. Redshirt junior guard Caitlyn Kroll (Bridgeport, Ohio) had a game-high 10 rebounds added to her seven points. 

The Bobcats were up 70-66 when Hooks fouled out of the game. Ohio maintained a four-point lead until the 2:12 mark, when Burris knocked down two free throws. Burris made eight-straight free throws and extended the lead to 82-70 with 49 seconds left.

The Bobcats will return to action on Saturday at Bowling Green. Tip-off is set for noon.

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