MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Ohio women's basketball team (6-11, 3-4 MAC) earned its first road win of the season with a 68-58 victory at Central Michigan (3-14, 1-6 MAC) on Wednesday, Jan. 24.
 
Ohio had multiple contributors all over the court today and finished the game with four players with double figure points. Freshman Monica Williams (Indianapolis, Ind.) led the team in scoring with 14 points. Junior Kennedi Watkins (Ballwin, Mo.) and freshman Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.) netted 13 points each and freshman Laylay Fantroy (Palestine, Texas) added 12 points for the Bobcats.
 
Overall, Watkins finished four-for-five from the field, Tabeling finished five-for-nine while both Williams and Fantroy finished four-for-eight.
 
Senior Peyton Guice (Westerville, Ohio) and Fantroy tallied four assists each, a new career best for the freshman. Guice also recorded a team-high and career-best five steals while three other Bobcats finished the game with three steals a piece.
 
Ohio got off to a slow start, allowing Central Michigan to get off to a 5-0 scoring run. The Bobcats were able to gain some momentum due to their success from the three-point line. Central Michigan held a 19-17 lead over Ohio heading into the second quarter of the game.
 
Ohio's overall performance improved despite a scrappy second quarter between the two teams. It was almost two minutes before one of the teams scored with a lot of fouls being called. The Bobcats' aggressive defense benefitted as they tied the game at 26-26 with 4:13 left in the second quarter. With just over two minutes to go, Ohio went up 29-26 and eventually led 31-28 as both teams headed into the locker room.
 
The Bobcats found most of their scoring success from the three-point line in the first half. As a team, Ohio shot 46.7 percent in the first two quarters with Tabeling leading the charge. Tabeling finished three-for-four from the arc and had nine points at halftime.
 
Guice and Fantroy finished the half with three steals a piece. Guice also dished out three assists in two quarters. Watkins led the team in rebounds at halftime with three total.  
 
It remained a close game in the third quarter. Ohio lost some of its momentum from the second quarter due to the team's struggles with rebounding. The Bobcats' offense was more focused on points in the paint, and they only shot three three-pointers the entirety of the third quarter. Ohio and Central Michigan were tied 50-50 heading into the final quarter of the game.
 
Composure and toughness were key for Ohio in the fourth quarter. The Bobcats recorded eight steals and forced 10 turnovers in the final 10 minutes of the game, denying Central Michigan the opportunity to go on any kind of scoring run. The Bobcats outscored the Chippewas 18-8 during the quarter with 12 points off turnovers. 

Ohio outlasted Central Michigan, earning an important 68-58 road victory.
 
The Bobcats will be back in action when they host Miami in the Convocation Center on Saturday, Jan. 27. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
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