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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball team (2-4, 0-0 MAC) is set to host Butler (8-2, 0-0 Big East) for its Holiday Hoops game on Sunday, Dec. 8. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING BUTLER
Butler currently has an 8-2 overall record heading into its matchup at Ohio. The Bulldogs recently defeated UT Martin, 70-60 at home on Thursday evening.
 
The Bulldogs average 70.1 PPG; shooting 45.7 percent from the field, 35.4 percent from the arc and 71.4 percent from the line. The team averages 32.2 rebounds, 15.3 assists and 7.4 steals per game. The Bulldogs have forced 18.8 turnovers per game and average 20.5 points off turnovers.
 
Butler's opponents average 60.9 PPG; shooting 43.0 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from the arc and 71.3 percent from the line. Opponents average 29.4 rebounds, 11.1 assists and 8.1 steals per game. Opponents have forced Butler to give up 17.9 turnovers per game and average 19.9 points off turnovers.
 
Caroline Strande leads the team in scoring with a total of 156 points. Kilyn McGuff has grabbed a team-high 72 rebounds. Karsyn Norman ranks first on the team for assists with 32 total. Cristen Carter has a team-high 14 blocks and Lily Carmody has a team-high 21 steals.
 
SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio currently has an 2-4 overall record heading into its matchup with Butler. The Bobcats recently defeated Ohio Christian, 97-37 this past Tuesday.
 
The Bobcats average 61.3 PPG; shooting 35.9 percent from the field, 26.2 percent from the arc and 64.0 percent from the line. The team averages 38.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists and 8.5 steals per game. The Bobcats have forced 16.3 turnovers per game and average 14.7 points off turnovers.
 
Ohio's opponents average 69.2 PPG; shooting 37.1 percent from the field, 25.4 percent from the arc and 67.4 percent from the line. Opponents average 47 rebounds, 13.7 assists and 9.2 steals per game. Opponents have forced Ohio to give up 20 turnovers per game and average 19 points off turnovers.
 
Bailey Tabeling leads the team in scoring with a total of 70 points. Both Monica Williams and Tabeling have grabbed a team-high 34 rebounds. Williams also ranks first on the team for assists with 14 total. Both Asiah Baxter and Williams have a recorded a team-high 10 steals. Tabeling ranks first on the team for blocks with three total.
 
ALL TIME VS BUTLER
The Bobcats trail in its series with Butler, 1-3.
 
LAST TIME VS BUTLER
The last competition between the Bobcats and the Bulldogs was during the 2023-24 season. Ohio fell 69-49 at Butler. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio women's basketball team (2-4, 0-0 MAC) defeated Ohio Christian (5-5, 0-0) 97-37 on Tuesday, Dec. 3 in the Convocation Center.
 
The Bobcats shot 47.5 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from the arc. The team tallied 57 rebounds, 22 assists and 10 steals.
 
Freshman Gigi Bower (Powell, Ohio) led Ohio with a career-high 21 points; finishing eight-for-11 from the field and five-for-eight from the arc.
 
Five Bobcats finished with double-figure points, including Bower. Sophomore Emma Barnett (Mount Washington, Ky.) scored a career-high 14 points and finished second on the team in scoring. Sophomore Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.) recorded 13 points, senior Kennedi Watkins (Ballwin, Mo.) added 11 points and senior Kate Dennis (Rockford, Ill.) tallied 10 points.
 
Multiple Bobcats led the team in rebounding. Dennis, freshman Danni Scully (Park Ridge, Ill.) and senior Aja Austin (Westerville, Ohio) finished with seven rebounds each, a career high performance for each player. Tabeling and sophomore Asiah Baxter (Indianapolis, Ind.) also added six rebounds each. The six rebounds were a career high for Baxter.
 
Watkins and Bower both distributed a career-high and team-high four assists. Scully led Ohio in steals with a career-high three total.
 
Despite getting off to a sluggish start, the Bobcats bounced back from a shaky first quarter and dominated for the rest of the game. Ohio scored 46 points in the paint and 40 points off turnovers. Half of Ohio's points were scored by players coming off the bench.
 
TEAM STATISTIC CATEGORY LEADERS (TOP 3)
Points: Bailey Tabeling (70), Kennedi Watkins (59), Monica Williams (45)
Rebounds: Bailey Tabeling (34), Monica Williams (34), Asiah Baxter (22), Kennedi Watkins (22)
Assists: Monica Williams (14), Bailey Tabeling (11), Aliah McWhorter (8)
Blocks: Bailey Tabeling (3), Emma Barnett (2), Kate Dennis (2), Kennedi Watkins (2), Aja Austin (1), Asiah Baxter (1), Monica Williams (1)
Steals: Asiah Baxter (10), Monica Williams (10), Bailey Tabeling (9), Aliah McWhorter (5)
Minutes Played: Bailey Tabeling (184), Monica Williams (183), Kate Dennis (155)
 
MAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STATISTICAL LEADERS (12/6)
 
Team Rankings (Top 5):
Opponent FG% - 2nd (.371)
Opponent 3PT% - 3rd (.254)
3PT FG's Made Per Game - 4th (7.5)
Rebounds Per Game - 5th (38.7)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game - 4th (27.7)
Steals Per Game - 5th (8.50)
 
INDIVIDUAL Rankings (Top 10):
Offensive Rebounds - Monica Williams, 10th (13)
Offensive Rebounds Per Game - Monica Williams, 6th (2.3)
Defensive Rebounds - Bailey Tabeling, 10th (33)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game - Bailey Tabeling, 7th (5.5)
3PT FG's Made Per Game - Bailey Tabeling, 6th (2.2)
 
GAME HIGHS (Top 3):
Team FG Attempts - Ohio vs. Ohio Christian (12/3), 2nd (80)
Team 3PT FG Made - Ohio vs. Ohio Christian (12/3), 1st (14)
Team 3PT FG Attempts:
Ohio vs. Bellarmine (11/10), 2nd (37)
Ohio vs. Ohio Christian (12/3), 3rd (37)
Team Rebounds: Ohio vs. Ohio Christian (12/3), 3rd (57)
Individual 3PT FG Attempts:
Bailey Tabeling vs. Georgia Southern (11/4), 2nd (12)
Bailey Tabeling vs. Bellarmine (11/10), 3rd (12)
 
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 seasons 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 travel to Saint Louis on Sunday, Dec. 15. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
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