ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball team (0-0, 0-0 MAC) will kick off the 2024-25 season with its first MAC-SBC Challenge matchup versus Georgia Southern (0-0, 0-0 SBC) on Monday, Nov. 4 in the Convo. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and fans will be able to watch the game on ESPN+.
 
MAC-SBC CHALLENGE
The MAC-SBC Challenge -- the second installment of a scheduling alliance in men's and women's basketball -- will tip off on Monday, Nov. 4 with 12 Mid-American Conference (MAC) women's basketball programs hosting 12 Sun Belt Conference (SBC) teams, while the 12 MAC men's basketball programs will visit 12 SBC teams.
 
The second MAC-SBC Challenge contest for each team will take place on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, with the matchups based on real-time NET rankings and announced in January. The MAC men and Sun Belt women will host the February matchups.
 
Each MAC and Sun Belt team included in the MAC-SBC Challenge is guaranteed one home and one away game each season.
 
Scheduling assistance is provided by Ordinal Sports Group. In addition to relevant NET data, geography and frequency of past contests is considered in determining the matchups.
 
Each MAC-SBC Challenge game will be carried on an ESPN platform.
 
SCOUTING GEORGIA SOUTHERN
Georgia Southern concluded the 2023-24 season with a 15-18 overall and 4-14 conference record. Following the regular season, the Eagles advanced to the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament after defeating No. 13 seed Texas State, 72-70. Georgia Southern's 2023-24 season ended following the team's loss to No. 5 seed ULM in the Sun Belt quarterfinals. The 2024-25 season will be Georgia Southern's first under new head coach, Hana Haden. Georgia Southern's roster is made up of nine transfers, five seniors, three juniors and one sophomore, in addition to three freshmen.
 
Last season, the Eagles averaged 72.3 PPG; 39.2 percent from the field, 25.0 percent from the arc and 66.2 percent from the line. The team averaged 46.1 rebounds, 12.7 assists and 10 steals per game. The Eagles forced 19.8 turnovers per game and averaged 19.5 points off turnovers.
 
Georgia Southern's opponents averaged 70.4 PPG; shooting 38.3 percent from the field, 31.5 percent from the arc and 67.1 percent from the line. Opponents averaged 42.3 rebounds, 12.6 assists and nine steals per game. Opponents forced 18.2 turnovers per game and averaged 17.8 points off turnovers.
 
SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio concluded the 2023-24 season with a 11-19 overall and 8-10 conference record. The Bobcats returned to the MAC Tournament where they ended their season with a 77-53 loss to No. 2 seed Ball State. Ohio's roster for the 2024-25 season is made up on nine returners and seven newcomers. Ohio's new players include two transfers, one sophomore, one redshirt freshman and three freshmen. Ohio returns its top three scorers and several other standouts from the 2023-24 season.
 
Last season, the Bobcats averaged 63.8 PPG; shooting 39.0 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from the arc and 68.9 percent from the line. The team averaged 30.9 rebounds, 11.3 assists and 11 steals per game. The Bobcats forced 21.3 turnovers per game and averaged 18.9 points off turnovers.
 
Ohio's opponents averaged 71.5 PPG; shooting 42.5 percent from the field, 30.6 percent from the arc and 73.2 percent from the line. Opponents averaged 42.3 rebounds, 15.1 assists and nine steals per game. Opponents forced 18.6 turnovers per games and averaged 19.3 points off turnovers.
 
ALL TIME VS GEORGIA SOUTHERN
This will be the first meeting between the Bobcats and the Eagles.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The No. 7 Ohio women's basketball team (11-19, 8-10 MAC) fell to No. Ball State (28-4, 16-2 MAC) 77-53 in the MAC Tournament Quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 13.
 
Freshman Laylay Fantroy (Palestine, Texas) led the Bobcats with a team-high 18 points and five steals. Fantroy finished six-for-eight from the field and five-for-five from the line. Freshman Monica Williams (Indianapolis, Ind.) grabbed a team-high five rebounds in addition to tallying nine points. Freshman Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.) was also an integral player for Ohio as she finished the game with seven points, an assist and two rebounds.
 
Both teams went back-in-forth in beginning of the first quarter. Williams sank two of Ohio's threes and the teams were tied 9-9 with 4:30 to go in the quarter. The Bobcats lost their momentum after giving up several turnovers which allowed Ball State to start creating a gap in the score. At the end of the first, Ohio trailed Ball State 22-14.
 
Ohio struggled to produce on offense in the second quarter and Ball State's lead continued to grow. The Bobcats fought hard on defense, but the Cardinals were tough to suppress especially at the three-point line. Heading into the locker room, Ball State led Ohio 43-25.
 
Ohio was more successful on offense following halftime. Tabeling and Fantroy were major standouts for the Bobcats as they outscored Ball State 17-13 in the third quarter. Heading into the final quarter, Ohio trailed 56-42.
 
Despite putting up a tough fight in the final 10 minutes, the Bobcats ultimately fell to the Cardinals 77-53.
 
LAST SEASON'S STANDOUTS
Among Ohio's returning players, several were standouts for the Bobcats during the 2023-24 season. Three Bobcats were recognized with 2023-24 MAC Postseason Honors for their impactful performances on the court last season.
 
Despite several inuries, junior Jaya McClure concluded her sophomore season as one of the Ohio's top performers. The All-MAC Honorable Mention made 21 appearances with 16 starts, ranked first on the team for assists (75), second for points (278) and recorded 35 steals. Throughout the season, McClure tallied a career-high 26 points, 11 FGM, nine assists, seven rebounds and seven FTM.
 
Senior Kennedi Watkins made an immediate impact for the Bobcats in her first season at Ohio. Along with McClure, Watkins was named an All-MAC Honorable Mention. She made 26 appearances with 21 starts, ranked first on the team in points (288), blocks (12), averaged 11.1 PPG, grabbed 98 rebounds and ranked eighth in the MAC for steals with 40 total. Watkins recorded a career-high 26 points, five blocks, 10 FGM and seven rebounds.
 
Sophomore Bailey Tabeling ended her debut season at Ohio as one of the top three-point shooters in MAC and NCAA. She was named to the MAC All-Freshman Team after ranking third on the team for points (260), second for steals (48), grabbing 75 rebounds and recording 32 assists. Tabeling ranked third in the MAC for three-point percentage, fourth for 3FGs per game and seventh for steals. The sophomore also ranked 24th in the NCAA for three-point percentage at the end of the season.
 
VETERAN BOBCATS
The Ohio women's basketball team has nine players returning for the 2024-25 season including the previously named standouts; Jaya McClure (Jr.), Kennedi Watkins (Sr.) and Bailey Tabeling (So.).
 
Guards Kate Dennis (Sr.) and Monica Williams (So.) were important contributors for the team and consistently part of Ohio's starting lineup last season. Both Bobcats started and played in all 30 games during the 2024-25 season.
 
Dennis played 697 minutes across 30 games. She finished the 2022-23 season with 183 points, 57 rebounds, eight assists, eight blocks and 17 steals. Dennis ranked second in three-pointers (47), 3PT % (.343), blocks and first for FT%. The senior averaged less than one turnover per game with 21 total last season. Dennis recorded multiple career bests last season including 14 points versus Kent State (2/21/24), four steals versus IUPUI (11/26/23) and four blocks at App State (11/11/23).
 
Williams played a team-high 788 minutes, averaging 26.3 minutes per game across 30 games. In her debut season with Ohio, she recorded 247 points, 68 assists, 101 rebounds, 42 steals and seven blocks. Williams ranked second on the team for assists, third for steals, blocks and fifth for blocks. The sophomore netted a season-high 15 points at Kent State (1/6/24), recorded a season-high eight rebounds versus Eastern Michigan (1/20/24), a season-high five assists & seven steals versus Central Michigan (3/2/24) and three blocks versus Kent State (2/21/24).
 
Coming off the bench last season, Asiah Baxter (So.) played 73 minutes across 12 games as a guard for Ohio. Baxters netted 13 points and shot 41.7 percent from the field. She also totaled 10 rebounds and two assists. Baxter played a season-high 21 minutes at Ball State (2/3/24)
 
Cassidy Lafler (Jr.), Emma Barnett (So.) and Aja Austin (Sr.) are Ohio's three returning forwards. All three Bobcats missed a large portion or the entirety of the  2023-24 season due to injuries.
 
WELCOME TO ATHENS
Ohio welcomes seven newcomers, including three freshmen, a redshirt freshman, sophomore and two transfers, to its 2024-25 roster.
 
Gigi Bower (Freshman; Powell, Ohio): A 5-9 guard, Bower joins the team after being a four-year letterwinner for basketball at Olentangy Liberty. She earned several honors including Second Team All-State, First Team All-OCC, OCC Central Player of the Year, First Team All-District 11, First Team All-Delaware County, Delaware County Player of the Year and SBC Live All Star. During the 2022-23 season, Bower set the record for the most three pointers in a season and helped her team to an OCC Championships title.
 
Kiersten Cashell (Sophomore; Hilliard, Ohio): A 5-10 guard, Cashell was a four-year letterwinner for basketball at Hilliard Davidson High School. In 2022-23, Cash was a team captain, played in 22 games and averaged 12.5 points per game. The Hilliard native was named All-OCC Second Team and team MVP. Cashell received the Sharon Huesman Memorial and OCC Byron Prushing scholarships.
 
Anyssa Jones (Graduate Student; Westerville, Ohio): Prior to Ohio, Jones started her collegiate career at Ohio State before transferring to Dayton and playing for the Flyers for two seasons. At Dayton, the 5-10 guard appeared in 59 games, made 43 starts and averaged 27.8 minutes per game. In two seasons with the Flyers, she amassed a total of 541 points, 288 rebounds, 52 assists and 55 steals in her two seasons with the Flyers. At Ohio State, Jones appeared in 15 games, was two-time Scholar-Athlete Award recipient and earned 2021-22 Academic All-Conference honors.
 
Madison Lim (Redshirt Freshman; Marysville, Ohio):  A 5-10 guard, Lim was a four-year letterwinner for basketball at Mechanicsburg High School where she served as team captain. She was a recipient of the 2022-23 Scholar-Athlete Award. She helped her team to two conference championship titles and a birth to the 2023 District Semifinals. Lim started in all 25 games during senior season.
 
Aliah McWhorter (Graduate Student; Cincinnati, Ohio): A 6-1 guard, McWhorter enters her first year with the Bobcats spending four season playing at Wake Forest. She did not see action for two seasons due to injury. In total, McWhorter played in 19 games and made for start for the Demon Deacons. During the 2023-24 season, McWhorter appeared in 14 games, made one start versus North Carolina (2/18) and tallied 45 total minutes on the court.
 
Olivia Rinard (Freshman; Williamstown, W. Va.): A 5-5 guard, Rinard was a four-year letterwinner for basketball and soccer in high school. Rinard attended Williamstown High School for two years before transferring to Marietta High School for her junior and senior years. During her freshman season, Rinard's team competed at the West Virginia State Final Four.
 
Danni Scully (Freshman; Park Ridge, Ill.): A 6-1 forward, Scully was a four-year letterwinner for basketball at Nazareth Academy. She was a team captain, two-time All-Conference, a Montini Christmas First Team All-Tournament selection and named an All-State Honorable Mention. In 2023, Scully received the MVP Award in the state semi-final game. Scully helped her team to a 2022 State Runner Up finish and a 2023 State Championship title.
 
2024-25 MAC PRESEASON POLL
The Ohio women's basketball team was selected to finish sixth, tied with NIU, in the 2024-25 MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the league on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Ohio earned 64 points and was chosen to finish above Miami (OH) (44), Akron (43), Western Michigan (34), Eastern Michigan (23) and Central Michigan (20). Ball State (120) was selected to finish first in the conference with 10 first-place votes. Kent State (104) also received two first-place votes and was chosen to finish second in the conference. Ball State (8) was also selected to win the 2025 MAC Tournament, followed by Bowling Green (1), Buffalo (1), Kent State (1) and Toledo (1).
 
2024-25 PRESEASON ALL-MAC
Junior guard Jaya McClure was selected to the Preseason All-MAC Second Team, as announced by the league on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Last season, McClure was named an All-MAC Honorable Mention after appearing in 22 games and making 17 starts. McClure concluded the season with 278 points, 12.6 PPG, 75 assists, 35 steals and 56 rebounds. McClure ranked first on the team for assists and second for points.
 
BOBCATS STAFF: FAMILIAR FACES
Ohio returns almost its entire coaching staff from last season. Associate Head Coach Tavares Jackson joins head coach, Bob Bolden, in his 12th season with the Bobcats. Assistant Coach Chelsea Welch enters her third season and Director of Operations Ebony Pegues enters her fourth season with the program. Kaylee Gregory Bambule has been promoted to an assistant coach position after serving as video coordinator for two seasons. Former Bobcat, Abby Garnett, returns to Athens for her first season as assistant coach with Ohio.
 
UP NEXT
The Bobcats will be back in action when they host Bellarmine on Sunday, Nov. 10 in the Convo. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+
 
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