ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball team (3-6, 0-0 MAC) will conclude its non-conference portion of the season with a game at Bellarmine (4-7, 0-0 ASUN) on Saturday, Dec. 30. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
SCOUTING BELLARMINE
After falling to Akron, 88-65, Bellarmine has a 4-7 overall record heading into the matchup. Bellarmine averages 64.5 points per game; shotting 38.7 percent from the field, 28.5 percent from the arc and 65.8 percent from the line. Bellarmine averages 36.2 rebounds, 14.5 assists and 8.6 steals per game. The Knights have forced 17.7 turnovers per game and average 14.8 points off turnovers.
Bellarmine's opponents average 76.6 points per game; shooting 42.3 percent from the field, 28.7 percent from the arc and 74.2 percent from the line. Opponents average 43.2 rebounds, 13.5 assists and 8.4 steals per game. Opponents have forced Bellarmine to give up 17.8 turnovers per game and average 18.2 points off turnovers.
Hayley Harrison (158) and Hope Sivori (103) lead the Knights in scoring with over 100 points so far this season. Sivori also has a team-high 43 assists and 18 steals. Paetynn Gray and Miyah Brown are Bellarmine's top performers for rebounding with 68 and 63 total rebounds on the season, respectively.
SCOUTING OHIO
After their 69-49 loss at Butler, the Bobcats are 3-6 heading into the matchup at Bellarmine. Ohio averages 62.1 points per game; shooting 37.1 percent from the field, 29.8 percent from the arc and 63.3 percent from the line. Ohio averages 33.1 rebounds, 11 assists and 11.1 steals per game. The Bobcats have forced 23.6 turnovers per game and average 17.8 points off turnovers.
Meanwhile, opponents average 73.9 points per game; shooting 41 percent from the field, 28.9 percent from the arc and 67.7 percent from the line. Opponents average 47.1 rebounds, 14.1 assists and 11 steals per game. Opponents have forced Ohio to give up 22.3 turnovers per game and have scored an average of 24.1 points off turnovers.
Jaya McClure leads the Bobcats with 116 points and 29 assists. Kennedi Watkins is second on the team for points (74) and third for rebounds (33). Laylay Fantroy sits at first on the team for steals (17) and second for rebounds (35). Madi Mace has consistently been Ohio's top performers in rebounds with a total of 44.
ALL TIME VS BELLARMINE
This upcoming matchup will mark Ohio and Bellarmine's first-time meeting in the history of its programs.
LAST TIME VS BELLARMINE
This upcoming matchup will mark Ohio and Bellarmine's first-time meeting in the history of its programs.
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio Women's basketball team (3-6, 0-0 MAC) fell to the Bulldogs of Butler (8-4, 0-1 Big East), 49-69 on Thursday afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
The first quarter with both teams putting up shots, with Butler going on a quick run to go up as much as 13 points in the first quarter. The Bobcats fell behind an 11-1 run late into the first, but still got to the free throw line effectively. The Bobcat deficit would sit at 12 at the end of the first period but forced five turnovers.
Ohio began the scoring early in the second when sophomore Jaya McClure (Louisville, Ky.) connected an and-one to cut the lead to single digits. Freshman Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.) then hit a long-distance three to cut the Bulldogs' first quarter lead in half only two minutes into the second quarter. Butler would then take momentum back and re-inflate the lead to 22 with two minutes left in the quarter, conducting an 18-2 run to end the half.
The Bobcats ended the first half down 16-38. McClure led the scoring charge with eight points and junior guard Kennedi Watkins (Ballwin, Mo.) grabbed four rebounds.
As the third quarter began, the Bobcats looked to get back into the game, but allowed the Bulldog lead to grow until the midway point of the third. McClure and freshman guard Laylay Fantroy (Palestine, Texas) were able to score six unanswered points to cut the lead to slightly late in the third. The Bobcats were able to nearly double their score in the third period but trailed 30-57 after three.
The Bobcats were able to put up points quickly in the fourth, creating a 6-0 run of their own. The Bobcats forced several turnovers, one of which ended in a Tabeling three-pointer. The Bobcats continued to push into the Bulldog lead late in the fourth but ended up falling by a final score of 49-69.
McClure individually led the Bobcats in both scoring and assists, where she put up 13 and three, respectively. Watkins led the Bobcats in rebounds, pulling in six throughout the game. Tabeling finished second in scoring with eight points. McClure, along with leading scoring and assists, finished joint-second on the team with Tabeling in rebounds, pulling in four.
As a team, the Bobcats shot 9-15 (60%) from the free throw line. The Bobcats forced 24 turnovers, scoring 18 points off turnovers. Ohio pulled in 29 total rebounds, eight of which offensive. The Bobcats scored eight more fast break points, had two more blocks, and four more steals than the Bulldogs. The Bobcat bench outscored the Bulldogs' bench 19-17, led by Tabeling's eight.
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 116 points in eight games, ranks sixth in the MAC for points per game (14.5) and seventh for assists per game (3.6).
McClure leads the team with 29 assists and has recorded six 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 74 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 9.3 points per game and 4.1 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 (44/4.9 RPG) and has netted 41 points (4.6 PPG). Mace reached 300 career rebounds after grabbing four versus Syracuse and is 16 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 nine games this season. Dennis has played 193 minutes for the Bobcats - averaging 21.4 minutes per game - tallied 54 points, 16 rebounds, seven steals and five blocks. She has only recorded five turnovers across nine 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.
abeling'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 (.552), 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 nine 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 fourth on the team in points (61), second in rebounds (35) and has a team-high 17 steals. Fantroy is currently fourth in the MAC for steals per game and fifth 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 (57), ranks fourth for rebounds (29) and is tied second for assists (16). 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 (116), Kennedi Watkins (74), Bailey Tabeling (64)
Rebounds: Madi Mace (44), Laylay Fantroy (35), Kennedi Watkins (33)
Assists: Jaya McClure (29), Madi Mace (16), Monica Williams (16), Bailey Tabeling (12)
Blocks: Kate Dennis (5), Kennedi Watkins (5), Cassidy Lafler (4)
Steals: Laylay Fantroy (17), Bailey Tabeling (13), Bengisu Alper (12), Jaya McClure (12)
MAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STATISTIC LEADERS (Thru 12/28)
Team Rankings (Top 5):
3PT FGs Made - 5th (64)
3PT FGs Made Per Game - 5th (7.1)
Free Threes Made - 5th (107)
Total Steals - 2nd (100)
Steals Per Game - 2nd (11.11)
Individual Rankings (Top 10):
Points Per Game - Jaya McClure, 6th (14.5)
3PT Field Goal Percentage - Bailey Tabeling, 1st (.552)
3PT FGs Made Per Game - Bailey Tabeling, 9th (1.8)
Free Throws Made - Jaya McClure, 3rd (37)
Total Assists - Jaya McClure, 10th (29)
Assists Per Game - Jaya McClure, 7th (3.6)
Total Steals - Laylay Fantroy, 5th (17)
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 open conference play with a game versus Akron on Wednesday, Jan. 3 in the Convocation Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
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