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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball team (3-5, 0-0 MAC) heads to Indianapolis, Ind. for a nonconference game against Butler (7-4, 0-1 BIG EAST) on Thursday, Dec. 21. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on YouTube.
 
SCOUTING BUTLER
After its 88-62 loss to No. 17 UConn, Butler has a 7-4 overall and 0-1 conference record heading into the matchup with Ohio. The Bulldogs average 66.6 points per game; shooting 43.6 percent from the field, 36.5 percent from the arc and 68.5 percent from the line. Butler averages 33.1 rebounds, 15.6 assists and 7.1 steals per game. The Bulldogs have forced 14.8 turnovers per game and average 14.9 points off turnovers.
 
Butler's opponents average 59.8 points per game; shooting 41.2 percent from the field, 30.9 percent from the arc and 64.5 percent from the line. Opponents average 34 rebounds, 13.4 assists and 6.9 steals per game. Opponents have forced Butler to give up 14.5 turnovers per game and average 12.5 points off turnovers.
 
Caroline Strande (174), Rachel Kent (116) and Jordan Meulemans (114) have all scored 100 or more points so far this season. Strande also leads the team in rebounds with 79 total. Ari Wiggins has a team-high 33 assists and 22 steals.
 
SCOUTING OHIO
After their 65-62 win over Indiana State, the Bobcats are 3-5 heading into the matchup at Butler. Ohio averages 63.8 points per game; shooting 38 percent from the field, 31.4 percent from the arc and 63.6 percent from the line. Ohio averages 33.6 rebounds, 11.5 assists and 11.1 steals per game. The Bobcats have forced 23.5 turnovers per game and average 17.8 points off turnovers.
 
Meanwhile, opponents average 74.5 points per game; shooting 40.7 percent from the field, 26.3 percent from the arc and 67.6 percent from the line. Opponents average 47.5 rebounds, 13.1 assists and 11.5 steals per game. Opponents have forced Ohio to give up 22.6 turnovers per game and have scored an average of 24.9 points off turnovers.
 
Sophomore Jaya McClure leads the Bobcats with 103 points and 26 assists. Junior Kennedi Watkins is second on the team for points (71) and third for rebounds (27). Freshman Laylay Fantroy sits at first on the team for steals (15), second for rebounds (33) and third for points (57). Redshirt junior Madi Mace has consistently been Ohio's top performers in rebounds with a total of 41.
 
ALL TIME VS BUTLER
Ohio and Butler have met three times with the Bulldogs defeating the Bobcats in all three matchups. The two teams first met during the 2006-07 season in the Convocation Center when Butler earned an 84-53 win over Ohio.
 
LAST TIME VS BUTLER
The last time that Ohio and Butler faced each other was during the 2019-20 season at the Ocean Center in Dayton Beach, Fla. It was a close matchup but the Bulldogs were able to prevail with a 60-55 win.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio women's basketball team (3-5, 0-0 MAC) prevailed over Indiana State (4-5, 0-0 MVC) with a 65-62 victory on Sunday, Dec. 17 in the Convocation Center.
 
"We had a long week to prepare. We had more steals than we've had in a long time and this group just did a really good job of using that time we had to watch tape, go over offense and learn from it. I was really impressed with how well they did that and thank goodness because we had a hard time scoring. We needed a great defensive effort and we got it," head coach Bob Bolden said.
 
Ohio had three players finish with double-figure points in addition to freshman Laylay Fantroy's (Palestine, Texas) first double-double of her career and first on the team this season. Fantroy concluded the game with 10 points and a career-best 11 rebounds. Sophomore Jaya McClure (Louisville, Ky.) led all players in points with 21 total, one point off her career best. McClure scored 16 of her points in the second half, shot 43.8 percent from the field, 50 percent from the arc and 75 percent from the line.
"I knew I had to turn it up and get inside the paint because getting inside the paint creates more for the team. It makes the defense work more and get tired. I knew I had to flip a switch," McClure said. 
 
After missing Ohio's previous game, junior Kennedi Watkins (Ballwin, Mo.) made an impressive return for the Bobcats. Watkins finished the game with 15 points, seven rebounds and two steals.
 
The Bobcats' found a large amount of their success on defense. Ohio forced Indiana State to give up 27 turnovers, tallied 18 steals and scored 20 points off turnovers. Behind Fantroy, redshirt junior Madi Mace had the second-best rebounding performance on the team with nine total. "I think we were in the right places at the right times. We've been working hard on our defense, trying to put the pieces together and we showed it out there tonight," Fantroy said.
 
The first quarter got off to a slow start for Ohio, allowing Indiana State to score a few baskets and take a small lead. However, Ohio's hustle on defense changed the tempo and provided more opportunities on offense. Seniors Bengisu Alper (Istanbul, Turkey) and Peyton Guice (Westerville, Ohio) earned two steals each. Watkins and Mace combined for six of Ohio's nine rebounds while Fantroy recorded two rebounds, a steal and a block in the first 10 minutes of play. The Bobcats led Indiana State, 17-13, heading into the second quarter of the game.
 
The matchup between the Bobcats and the Sycamores remained close throughout the second quarter. Ohio struggled to find success with its shooting but still had multiple players working hard and as a result were able to find opportunities in the paint. Fantroy grabbed four of Ohio's nine rebounds and led the team with six points. Freshman Monica Williams (Indianapolis, Ind.) tallied an additional three rebounds. Heading into the locker room, the Bobcats held a 32-31 lead over Indiana State.
 
Ohio maintained its lead over Indiana State with important contributions from several players, specifically the 11-point performance by McClure. The Bobcats scored eight points off turnovers and netted 12 of their points in the paint. McClure and Fantroy combined for five of Ohio's six steals and Mace grabbed four rebounds for the Bobcats. Ohio led Indiana State 52-46 as the two teams headed into the final quarter of the game. With just over four minutes to go in the game, Indiana State had taken a 59-57 lead, but Ohio answered back with layup from Fantroy to tie the game. The Bobcats were able to finish on several free throw opportunities that helped them secure the 65-62 victory over Indiana State.
 
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 103 points in seven games, ranks sixth in the MAC for points per game (13.7) and eighth for assists per game (3.7).
 
McClure leads the team with 25 assists and has recorded five double-figure point games. She matched her season-best points with 21 in Ohio's 65-62 win over Indiana State (12/17), finishing 43.8 percent from the field, 50 percent from the arch and 75 percent from the line. Against Syracuse (12/9), 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 71 points - the second best on the team - so far this season and has recorded five 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 10.1 points per game and 3.9 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 (41/5.1 RPG) and has netted 40 points (5.0 PPG). Mace reached 300 career rebounds after grabbing four versus Syracuse and is 17 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 eight games this season. Dennis has played 172 minutes for the Bobcats - averaging 21.5 minutes per game - tallied 48 points, 16 rebounds, seven 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 second in the MAC for 3FG percentage (.560), ninth for 3FGs made per game (1.8) and leads the conference with the top single-game performance for 3FGs made so far this season.
 
MAKING AN IMPACT: LAYLAY FANTROY & MONICA WILLIAMS
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 eight games this season.
 
Fantroy recorded her first career double-double and is Ohio's first player to do so this season. Coming off the bench, she ranks third on the team in points (57), second in rebounds (33) and has a team-high 15 steals. Fantroy is currently fourth in the MAC for steals per game and sixth for total steals. She ranks second in the conference in game-high individual performances this season with her six steals at App State.
 
Williams is fifth on the team in points (52), ranks fourth for rebounds (26) and third for assists (15). In Ohio's win over IUPUI, Williams tallied career highs for rebounds (6), assists (5) and steals (3).
 
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 (103), Kennedi Watkins (71), Laylay Fantroy (57)
Rebounds: Madi Mace (41), Laylay Fantroy (33), Kennedi Watkins (27)
Assists: Jaya McClure (26), Madi Mace (15), Monica Williams (15), Bailey Tabeling (12)
Blocks: Kate Dennis (5), Cassidy Lafler (4), Kennedi Watkins (3)
Steals: Laylay Fantroy (15), Bailey Tabeling (12), Bengisu Alper (11)
 
MAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STATISTIC LEADERS (Thru 12/19)
Team Rankings (Top 5):
3PT FGs Made Per Game - 5th (7.3)
Total Steals - 2nd (89)
Steals Per Game - 2nd (11.13)
 
Individual Rankings (Top 10):
Points Per Game - Jaya McClure, 6th (14.7)
Free Throws Made - Jaya McClure, 4th (33)
3PT Field Goal Percentage - Bailey Tabeling, 2nd (.560)
3PT FGs Made Per Game - Bailey Tabeling, 9th (1.8)
Assists Per Game - Jaya McClure, 8th (3.7)
Total Steals - Laylay Fantroy, 6th (15)
Steals Per Game - Laylay Fantroy, 4th (1.9)
 
Game-High Stats (Top 3):
Team FT Percentage - 2nd (100%), Ohio at Ohio State (12/5/23)
Team Steals - 3rd (18), Ohio vs. Indiana State (12/17/23)
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 Saturday, Dec. 30 as they travel to Louisville, Ky. for a nonconference matchup against Bellarmine. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
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