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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball team (7-11, 4-4 MAC) earned a 71-55 Battle of the Bricks victory against the Miami RedHawks (4-14, 2-6 MAC) in the Convocation Center on Saturday, Jan. 27.
Overall, the Bobcats shot 44 percent from the field and 32 percent from the arc. The Bobcats grabbed a total of 40 rebounds including 29 defensive rebounds. Ohio's defense forced 22 turnovers and scored 28 points off turnovers. The RedHawks never led once throughout the entire of the game.
Individually, the Bobcats were led by freshman
Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.) with 20 points, a career-high seven rebounds and two steals. Redshirt junior
Madi Mace (Parkersburg, W. Va.) had 13 points, six rebounds and three assists. Freshman
Laylay Fantroy (Palestine, Texas) had 12 points, six rebounds and recorded three steals. Freshman
Monica Williams (Indianapolis, Ind.) had 10 points, four assists and three steals.
Ohio lost the tip to Miami, but senior
Bengisu Alper (Istanbul, Turkey) immediately blocked the ball on the other end to stop the Redhawks from scoring. Ohio got on the board first, taking a quick five-point lead after senior
Peyton Guice (Westerville, Ohio) snagged a steal to assist a driving layup for Tabeling, followed by a forced turnover on defense which allowed Dennis to sink a three-point jumper. Miami tied the score, but Ohio gained the lead once more with two driving layups and a free throw from Williams. An exciting three pointer by Tabeling, assisted by Mace, gave Ohio an eight-point lead. Ohio played aggressively on defense in the first quarter grabbing eight defensive rebounds and snagging six steals against the RedHawks.
Alper put Ohio on the board in the second quarter with a layup assisted by Tabeling. Ohio continued to press on defense, forcing Miami into a scoring drought for almost three minutes of play. The Redhawks also pushed back on defense against the Bobcats, only allowing one layup in the first five minutes of play. Ohio ended its scoreless streak with Mace going 2-for-2 at the stripe. Mace continued her offensive run with a three pointer and a second-chance layup under the rim. Mace forced a turnover, snagged a steal and finished on a driving layup. Tabeling and Mace were a force to be reckoned with in the first half, scoring a combined 23 points of Ohio's 36. Mace led in scoring for both teams with 13 points. At the half, Ohio led 36-20.
Tabeling opened the scoring in the half for both teams with a second-chance three-point jumper off a Miami turnover. Miami struggled on defense against Ohio. Tabeling and Guice both went 2-for-2 at the stripe after drawing fouls from Miami. The Redhawks also struggled offensively in the quarter. Alper and Tabeling both scored a driving layup off a turnover, forcing Miami to call a timeout with 6:33 left in the quarter. An exciting play of the quarter was a second-chance layup by Fantroy off an offensive rebound. After three quarters, Ohio led Miami 58-42.
Fantroy began the final quarter of the game with an offensive streak scoring two layups and a free throw for Ohio. Going into the final media timeout of the game, Ohio had a 16-point lead against Miami. Out of the timeout, Miami had a turnover giving Ohio possession of the ball. Guice would attempt to run the clock, but Williams drew a foul going 2-for-2 with the bonus. Ohio called a timeout with 2:15 remaining in the game leading with 20 points. Out of the timeout, Fantroy drew a foul on a fast break and went 1-for-2 at the stripe. Ohio was victorious over Miami, earning a 71-55 win.
The Bobcats will be back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 31 as they take on Buffalo in the Convocation Center for the National Girls & Women's in Sports Game. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and is available to stream on ESPN+.
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