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Box Score (PDF)

CHARLOTTE – The Ohio women's basketball team (14-9, 11-6 MAC) fell to Clemson (12-13, 5-12 ACC), 65-60, in the opening round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament on Friday afternoon at the Bojangles Coliseum.

Senior guard Cece Hooks (Dayton, Ohio) recorded her fourth double-double of the season after posting 17 points and 10 rebounds. Hooks was 7-of-17 from the field and added four assists and three steals. 

Senior forward Gabby Burris (Baltimore, Ohio) also recorded 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting. Burris added three rebounds. Redshirt junior guard Erica Johnson (Mansfield, Ohio) added 11 points, while redshirt freshman guard Madi Mace (Parkersburg, W. Va.) had 10 points, five boards and three steals.

The Bobcats were 24-of-62 (38.7 percent) from the field and 4-of-22 (18.2 percent) from the field, while Clemson was 25-of-65 (38.5 percent) overall and 3-of-19 (15.8 percent) from deep.

Clemson outrebounded Ohio, 49-31. Hooks led Ohio with 10 boards, while Johnson and Mace pulled down five each. Burris had three rebounds, while redshirt junior guard Caitlyn Kroll (Bridgeport, Ohio) pulled down two boards to add to her five points.

Ohio forced 23 turnovers compared to the Bobcats' 16. The Bobcats had 11 steals with Johnson, Hooks and Mace all recording three.

After being tied at 48-48 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Clemson opened the frame with a 8-0 run. The Bobcats were able to chip away at the Clemson lead and push ahead of the Tigers with 48 seconds left when Mace made a layup. The Tigers took the lead with nine seconds left on a banked-in jump shot from the free throw line. Ohio could not score with nine seconds remaining after an Ohio turnover and Clemson won, 65-60.

Ohio will continue the WNIT when the Bobcats take on Fordham in a consolation round tomorrow at 11 a.m. at the Bojangles Coliseum.

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