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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball team (3-7, 0-0 MAC) is set to return to the Convocation Center for its first conference game of the season versus Akron (5-5, 0-0 MAC) on Wednesday, Jan. 3. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING AKRON
Akron currently has a 5-5 overall record and averages 65.6 points per game; shooting 39.8 percent from the field, 29.3 percent from the arc and 73.2 percent from the line. Akron averages 38.2 rebounds, 12.7 assists and 6.2 steals per game. The Zips have forced 16.5 turnovers per game and average 15 points off turnovers.
 
Akron's opponents average 64.7 points per game; shooting 40.7 percent from the field, 30.9 percent from the arc and 59.6 percent from the line. Opponents average 37.5 rebounds, 14.6 assists and 7.7 steals per game. Opponents have forced Akron to give up 17 turnovers per game and average 15.8 points off turnovers.
 
Akron is led by one of the conference's top performers, Reagan Bass. Bass has tallied 205 points, 113 rebounds, 12 steals and nine blocks. Morgan Haney has also contributed 102 points, 37 rebounds, a team-high 28 assists and 12 steals this season.
 
SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats are 3-7 heading into their first conference game against Akron. Ohio averages 62.5 points per game; shooting 37.4 percent from the field, 28.8 percent from the arc and 63.9 percent from the line. Ohio averages 33.8 rebounds, 10.8 assists and 11.2 steals per game. The Bobcats have forced 23.6 turnovers per game and average 17.9 points off turnovers.
 
Meanwhile, opponents average 73.5 points per game; shooting 41.1 percent from the field, 28.2 percent from the arc and 68.9 percent from the line. Opponents average 45.9 rebounds, 14.6 assists and 10.9 steals per game. Opponents have forced Ohio to give up 22.7 turnovers per game and have scored an average of 24.1 points off turnovers.
 
Jaya McClure leads the Bobcats with 137 points and 35 assists. Kennedi Watkins is second on the team for points (82) and tied second for rebounds (39). Laylay Fantroy sits at first on the team for steals (18) and tied second for rebounds (39). Bailey Tabeling ranks third on the team for points (71) and tied second for steals (15). Madi Mace has consistently been Ohio's top performers in rebounds with a total of 47.
 
ALL TIME VS AKRON
Heading into the matchup, Ohio leads the series with Akron 24-14. The Bobcats are 15-4 at home, 9-10 on the road and have won six of the last 10 meetings.
 
LAST TIME VS AKRON
The two teams last met during the 2022-23 season in Akron, Ohio. The Zips came away with the a 73-64 win over the Bobcats.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio women's basketball team (3-7, 0-0 MAC) lost 70-66 in a hard-fought battle at Bellarmine (5-7, 0-0 ASUN) on Saturday, Dec. 30.
 
Despite a slow first half, sophomore Jaya McClure (Louisville, Ky.) tallied her seventh double-figure point game of the season. McClure netted a season-high 21 points, a career-high eight field goals and distributed six assists. Junior Kate Dennis (Rockford, Ill.) also had a double-figure point game with a season-best 10 points. Junior Kennedi Watkins (Ballwin, Mo.) and freshman Monica Williams (Indianapolis, Ind.) scored eight points each for Ohio. Watkins, senior Bengisu Alper (Istanbul, Turkey) and sophomore Cassidy Lafler (Dublin, Ohio) led Ohio in rebounding with six a piece. After missing two games, Lafler matched her career high in rebounds. Alper also recorded a team-high and career-best three steals.
 
At the conclusion of the first quarter, Bellarmine had a 20-14 lead over Ohio. Dennis led Ohio with eight points; shooting 60 percent from the field and 50 percent from the arc. The Knights outrebounded the Bobcats, 11-8, but Ohio forced Bellarmine to give up three more turnovers.
 
After scoring 21 points in the second quarter, Ohio earned a 35-32 lead over Bellarmine at the half. Ohio's offense in the second quarter was successful due to contributions by several players on the court. Freshman Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.) and Williams netted five and four points, respectively.
 
At the end of the first half, Ohio totaled 19 rebounds, five assists, 10 points off turnovers and 18 points in the paint. Alper collected three rebounds and three steals. Redshirt junior Madi Mace (Parkersburg, W. Va.) also grabbed three rebounds and McClure recorded a team-high three assists.
 
The game remained close between Ohio and Bellarmine with both teams tallying 17 points in the third quarter. However, the Bobcats were able to maintain a 52-49 lead heading into the final quarter largely due to the offensive performance by McClure. McClure reached double figures in points after scoring a total of 13 in the 10 minutes of play. With under a minute to go in the third, the two teams were tied at 49-49. After being fouled on a successful driving layup, McClure finished on a free throw opportunity and Ohio regained its lead over Bellarmine.
 
Both teams put up a hard fight until the very end of the game, but Bellarmine was able to pull away and earn a 70-66 win.
 
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 137 points in nine games, ranks fifth in the MAC for points per game (15.2), ninth for points and seventh for assists.
 
McClure leads the team with 35 assists and has recorded seven double-figure point games. She matched her season-best in points for the third time this season with 21 at Bellarmine (12/30). 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 82 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 9.1 points per game and 4.3 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 (47/4.7 RPG) and has netted 41 points (4.1 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 10 games this season. Dennis has played 222 minutes for the Bobcats - averaging 22.2 minutes per game - tallied 64 points, 18 rebounds, nine steals and six blocks. She has only recorded six turnovers across 10 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 (.515) 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 10 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 is tied for second in rebounds (39) and has a team-high 18 steals. Fantroy is currently seventh in the MAC for steals per game and total steals. She ranks second in the conference in game-high individual performances this season with her six steals at App State.
 
Williams is tied third on the team for rebounds (30) and ranks third 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 (137), Kennedi Watkins (82), Bailey Tabeling (71)
Rebounds: Madi Mace (47), Laylay Fantroy (39), Kennedi Watkins (39), Bengisu Alper (30),
Monica Williams (30)
Assists: Jaya McClure (35), Madi Mace (17), Monica Williams (16)
Blocks: Kate Dennis (6), Kennedi Watkins (6), Cassidy Lafler (5)
Steals: Laylay Fantroy (18), Bengisu Alper (15), Bailey Tabeling (15), Jaya McClure (14)
 
MAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STATISTIC LEADERS (Thru 1/1)
Team Rankings (Top 5):
Total Steals - 2nd (112)
Steals Per Game - 2nd (11.20)
 
Individual Rankings (Top 10):
Total Points - Jaya McClure, 9th (137)
Points Per Game - Jaya McClure, 5th (15.2)
3PT Field Goal Percentage - Bailey Tabeling, 1st (.515)
Free Throws Made - Jaya McClure, 4th (41)
Total Assists - Jaya McClure, 7th (35)
Assists Per Game - Jaya McClure, 6th (3.9)
Total Steals - Laylay Fantroy, 7th (18)
Steals Per Game - Laylay Fantroy, 7th (1.8)
 
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 at Kent State on Saturday, Jan. 6. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
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