ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball team (2-5, 0-0 MAC) will host Indiana State (4-4, 0-0 MVC) on Sunday, Dec. 17 in the Convocation Center. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING INDIANA STATE
Indiana State has a 4-4 overall record heading into its matchup at Ohio. The Sycamores recently defeated Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) 65-57. Indiana State averages 67.3 points per game; shooting 38.4 percent from the field, 23.3 percent from the arc and 74.9 percent from the line. The Sycamores currently average 40.5 rebounds, 11.9 assists and 9.5 steals per game. Indiana State has forced 17.9 turnovers per game and have scored an average of 17.1 points off turnovers.
 
Indiana State's opponents average 70.5 points; shooting 41.5 percent from the field, 35.4 percent from the arc and 65.3 percent from the line. Opponents average 34.9 rebounds, 12.9 assists and 8.4 steals per game. Opponents have forced the Sycamores to give up 18.4 turnovers per game and have scored an average 16.5 points off turnovers.
 
Individually, senior Kiley Bess leads Indiana State's offense with a team-high 101 points and is ranked second on the team in assists with 21 total. Sophomore Bella Finnegan (90), fifth year Chelsea Cain (89) and redshirt senior Mya Glanton (84) have netted 80 or more points this season. Glanton leads the team in rebounding with 64 total (8 RPG) and Finnegan leads the team with 15 steals (1.9 SPG). Fifth year Ella Sawyer has a team-high 24 assists, averaging three assists per game.
 
SCOUTING OHIO
After falling to Syracuse, Ohio is 2-5 heading into the non-conference matchup with Indiana State. Ohio averages 63.6 points per game; shooting 38.5 percent from the field, 32.7 percent from the arc and 64.3 percent from the line. The Bobcats currently average 32.9 rebounds, 11.6 assists and 10.1 steals per game. Ohio has forced 23 turnovers per game and scored an average of 17.4 points off turnovers.
 
Meanwhile, opponents average 76.3 points per game; shooting 41 percent from the field, 27.2 percent from the arc and 69.6 percent from the line. Opponents average 47.1 rebounds, 13.4 assists and 11.7 steals per game. Opponents have forced Ohio to give up 23.3 turnovers per game and average 24.9 points off turnovers.
 
Offensively, sophomore Jaya McClure leads the team with 82 points and 25 assists. Freshman Bailey Tabeling has been Ohio's top performer in three-point shooting with 14 three-pointers made and a 60.9 three-point percentage. Redshirt junior Madi Mace has a team-high 32 rebounds, averaging 3.7 rebounds per game. Freshman Laylay Fantroy leads the team in steals with 12 and Tabeling is right behind her with 11 total.
 
ALL TIME VS INDIANA STATE
The two teams have once in the history of their programs. This meeting occurred during the 2022-23 season with Ohio earning a 74-62 over Indiana State.
 
LAST TIME VS INDIANA STATE
The last time that Ohio and Indiana State faced each other was during the 2022-23 season when the Bobcats left Terre Haute, Ind. with a 74-62 victory over the Sycamores. In the teams' last meeting, four Bobcats recorded double figures in points including Jaya McClure. McClure finished the game with 11 points, three assists and a rebound.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio women's basketball team (2-5, 0-0 MAC) fell to the Syracuse Orange (8-1, 0-0 Atlantic Coast), 82-62, in a competitive battle on Saturday, Dec. 9 in the Convocation Center.
 
Offensively, Ohio was led by freshman guard Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.) with a career-high 23 points going 7-for-9 from three and was the highest scorer between both teams of the game. Overall, Tabeling shot 80 percent from the field and 77.8 percent from the three-point line. She had one of the best single-game shooting performances by an Ohio freshman. Tabeling is tied with three other players for single-game three-point field goals made and recorded the seventh-best single-game three-point percentage in program history. Sophomore guard Jaya McClure (Louisville, Ky.) had 15 points, a career-high six rebounds and a career-high nine assists.
 
Overall, the Bobcats finished 21-of-63 (33.3%) from the field, 10-of-31 (29.4%) from the arc and 10-of-13 (76.9%) from the line. Ohio recorded a total of 33 rebounds, eight steals and 13 assists.
 
From the jump, the Bobcats grabbed the ball and played strong on both offense and defense. Syracuse began to challenge Ohio's defense, gaining a six-point offensive lead. Tabeling scored back-to-back three-point jumpers to tie the score 13-13. Orange responded with two layups and going 3-of-4 from the line, giving them a five-point lead of 20-15 against the Bobcats going into the second quarter.
 
Tabeling continued her offensive streak with a driving layup off a steal and a three-point jumper assisted by McClure, giving the Bobcats their first offensive lead of the game 37-33. Tabeling led offensively between both teams in the half with 17 points. Going into the locker room, Ohio trailed behind Syracuse 44-41.
 
The Orange led 64-47 going into the final quarter of the game.
 
In the final quarter, sophomore forward Cassidy Lafler (Dublin, Ohio) and freshman guard Laylay Fantroy (Palestine, Texas) put the Bobcats back on the board scoring one layup each. Tabeling followed with back-to-back three-point jumpers, cutting the score deficit to 71-57 with six minutes left of play. Freshman guard Asiah Baxter (Indianapolis, Ind.) scored her first collegiate points with the Bobcats to close the fourth quarter. Syracuse went on to win the game with a score of 82-62.
 
THE JAYA MCCLURE SHOW: SEASON 2
After missing the first game of the season due to injury, McClure has returned to the court with a commanding presence and has acted as a major playmaker for the Bobcats. She has amassed 82 points in six games and ranks eighth in the MAC for points per game (13.7).
 
McClure leads the team with 25 assists and has recorded three double-figure point games. She tallied a season-best 21 points in Ohio's 75-71 win over IUPUI, finishing 50 percent from the field, 75 percent from the arch and 70 percent from the line. Against Syracuse, McClure recorded a career-best in rebounds (6), assists (9) and free throws made (7)
 
WATKINS MAKING HER MARK
Since arriving in Athens, junior Kennedi Watkins has made an immediate impact on the court for the Bobcats. Watkins surpassed the 500-point milestone after netting 10 points in Ohio's 67-61 win over Dayton (11/16).
 
She has tallied 56 points - the second best on the team - so far this season and has recorded four double-figure point games. Watkins' dynamic play and experience provides Ohio's young team with more veteran leadership.  The Ballwin, Mo. native is currently averaging 9.3 points per game and 3.3 rebounds per game.
 
MACE'S COMEBACK STORY
After spending the 2022-23 season on the sidelines due to injury, redshirt junior Madi Mace has proved to be an important presence on the court for Ohio since the first game of this season. She ranks first on the team in rebounds (32/4.6 RPG) and has netted 37 points (5.5 PPG). Mace reached 300 career rebounds after grabbing four versus Syracuse and is 20 points from reaching 500 career points.
 
DEPENDABLE KATE DENNIS
Junior Kate Dennis has remained a consistent player for Ohio, maintaining a spot in the starting lineup throughout all seven games this season. Dennis has played 152 minutes for the Bobcats - averaging 21.7 minutes per game - tallied 42 points, 15 rebounds, six steals and five blocks. She has only recorded five turnovers within seven games, averaging less than one turnover per game.
 
TABELING FOR THREE
Freshman Bailey Tabeling has emerged as one of Ohio's best shooters, specifically from the third-point line. Against Syracuse (12/9/23), Tabeling led both teams with 23 points; shooting 80 percent from the field and 77.8 percent from the arc. Tabeling's performance beyond the arc was one of the best by an Ohio freshman and she is the first Bobcat to record seven or more three-pointers in a single same since Amani Burke in 2018-19. The freshman ranks first in the MAC for 3FG percentage (.609), eighth for 3FGs made and leads the conference with the top single-game performance for 3FGs made so far this season.
 
YOUNG BOBCATS MAKING AN IMPACT
With more than half of the active players being underclassmen - including five freshmen - Ohio has one of the youngest teams in the league. Newcomers, Monica Williams and Laylay Fantroy, average more than 20 minutes per game and Williams has earned a position in the starting lineup in all seven games this season.
 
Williams is tied for fourth on the team in points (47), ranks second for rebounds (23) and third for assists (11). In Ohio's win over IUPUI, Williams tallied career highs for rebounds (6), assists (5) and steals (3). Coming off the bench, Fantroy is tied for fourth on the team in points (47), ranks second in rebounds (22) and has a team-high 12 steals. Fantroy is currently ninth in the MAC for steals per game and 10th for total steals. She ranks second in the conference in game-high individual performances this season with her six steals at App State.
 
WELCOME BACK, PEYTON GUICE
After spending almost two years on the bench with major injuries, senior Peyton Guice returned to the court during Ohio's game at Ohio State. The game was Guice's first time competing since the 2021-22 season. She played eight minutes, recording two points and two assists in the fourth quarter. 
 
TEAM STATISTIC CATEGORY LEADERS (TOP 3)
Points: Jaya McClure (82), Kennedi Watkins (56), Bailey Tabeling (54)
Rebounds: Madi Mace (32), Monica Williams (23), Laylay Fantroy (22)
Assists: Jaya McClure (25), Madi Mace (14), Monica Williams (11)
Blocks: Kate Dennis (5), Cassidy Lafler (4), Kennedi Watkins (3)
Steals: Laylay Fantroy (12), Bailey Tabeling (11), Bengisu Alper (9)
 
MAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STATISTIC LEADERS (Thru 12/14)
Team Rankings (Top 5):
3PT Field Goals Made - 5th (54)
3PT Field Goal Percentage - 5th (0.327)
3PT FGs Made Per Game - 4th (7.7)
Total Steals - 2nd (71)
Steals Per Game - 2nd (10.14)
 
Individual Rankings (Top 10):
Points Per Game - Jaya McClure, 8th (13.7)
3PT Field Goals Made - Bailey Tabeling, 8th (14)
3PT Field Goal Percentage - Bailey Tabeling, 1st (.609)
3PT FGs Made Per Game - Bailey Tabeling, 6th (2.0)
Free Throws Made - Jaya McClure, 4th (27)
Total Assists - Jaya McClure, 9th (25)
Total Assists - Jaya McClure, 9th (25)
Assists Per Game - Jaya McClure, 5th (4.2)
Total Steals - Laylay Fantroy, 10th (12)
Steals Per Game - Laylay Fantroy, 9th (1.7)
 
Game-High Stats (Top 3):
Team FT Percentage - 2nd (100%), Ohio at Ohio State (12/5/23)
Team Steals - 2nd (16), Ohio at App State (11/11/23)
Individual 3PT FGs Made - Bailey Tabeling, 1st (7); Ohio vs. Syracuse (12/9/23)
Individual Assists - Jaya McClure, 1st (9); Ohio vs. Syracuse (12/9/23)
Individual Steals - Laylay Fantroy, 2nd (6); Ohio at App State (11/11/23)
Individual Blocks - Kate Dennis, 3rd (4); Ohio at App State (11/11/23)
 
UP NEXT
The Bobcats will be back in action on Thursday, Dec. 21 as they travel to Indianapolis, Ind. for a non-conference matchup with Butler. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game will be streamed on YouTube.
 
#OUohyeah