ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball team (8-16, 5-8 MAC) will travel to Buffalo (14-10, 7-6 MAC) for a matchup on Saturday, Feb. 24. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING BUFFALO
Heading into its matchup with Ohio, Buffalo has a 14-10 overall and 7-6 conference record. Buffalo averages 66.1 points per game; shooting 41.7 percent from the field, 29.6 percent from the arc and 71.6 percent from the line. Buffalo averages 37 rebounds, 13.3 assists and 7.3 steals per game. The Bulls have forced 15 turnovers per game and average 14.6 points off turnovers.
 
Opponents average 62.5 points per game; shooting 38.1 percent from the field, 27.2 percent from the arc and 66.5 percent from the line. Opponents average 38.3 rebounds, 14.1 assists and 7 steals per game. Opponents have forced Buffalo to give up 14.2 turnovers per game and average 13 points off turnovers.
 
Chellia Watson leads Buffalo in scoring with 559 points. Alexis Davis has grabbed a team-high 145 rebounds while Rana Elhusseini leads the team with 80 assists and 37 steals.
 
SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats are 8-16 overall and 5-8 in conference play heading into their game with Buffalo. Ohio averages 63.6 points per game; shooting 38.7 percent from the field, 28.3 percent from the arc and 67 percent from the line. Ohio averages 31.3 rebounds, 11.2 assists and 10.7 steals per game. The Bobcats have forced 21.7 turnovers per game and average 19 points off turnovers.
 
Meanwhile, opponents average 72.6 points per game; shooting 43 percent from the field, 30.1 percent from the arc and 72.5 percent from the line. Opponents average 42.7 rebounds, 15.2 assists and 9.6 steals per game. Opponents have forced Ohio to give up 19.5 turnovers per game and have scored an average of 20.5 points off turnovers.
 
Bailey Tabeling leads the Bobcats in scoring with 225 points. Madi Mace has grabbed a team-high 92 rebounds, Monica Williams ranks first on the team with 53 assists and Laylay Fantroy leads the team with 41 steals.
 
LAST TIME VS BUFFALO
Ohio and Buffalo met earlier this season with Buffalo earning a 81-63 win over the Bobcats.
 
ALL TIME VS BUFFALO
The Bobcats trail in their the series with Buffalo 21-28 and have won four of the last 10 matchups.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio women's basketball team (8-16, 5-8 MAC) defeated the Kent State Golden Flashes (15-8, 10-3 MAC) 79-77 after an intense battle on Wednesday, Feb. 21.
 
Overall, the Bobcats shot 50.9 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from the three-point arch. The Bobcats went 10-for-13 at the free-throw line. The Bobcats grabbed a total of 31 rebounds with 25 being defensive. Ohio's defense forced 15 turnovers and scored 16 points off them. The Kent State Golden Flashes outrebounded Ohio 42-31, but Ohio snagged more steals with nine. Individually, the Bobcats were led by sophomore Jaya McClure (Louisville, Ky.) with a career-high 26 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Junior Kate Dennis (Rockford, Ill.) with 14 points and three rebounds. Freshman Monica Williams (Indianapolis, Ind.) with 11 points, four assists, three blocks and two steals. Junior Kennedi Watkins (Ballwin, Mo.) with 11 points, three assists and two steals.
 
Ohio started the game hot winning the tip and immediately sinking a three-point jumper from Williams. Dennis kept the offensive momentum going for Ohio with another three-point basket assisted by freshman guard Laylay Fantroy (Palestine, Texas). McClure added points with a driving layup giving Ohio a four-point lead. Kent State began to crawl back into the game with driving layups and three-point baskets. The Golden Flashes extended their lead to 10 points with two minutes remaining in the quarter. McClure attempted to close the score gap by making back-to-back driving layups. Fantroy had a three-point play drawing a foul on a defensive steal under Ohio's rim. Freshman Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.) continued Ohio's offensive streak ending the quarter with a three-point jumper. Kent State led by three going into the second quarter.
 
Watkins opened the scoring in the second quarter with a driving layup to close the score gap against Kent State to one point. The Golden Flashes sank a layup, but Watkins stole the ball on a defensive play and scored another driving layup to keep the Bobcats behind by one point. Kent State took a six-point lead going into the final media timeout of the half. Dennis made a second-chance three-point basket followed by a field goal basket by McClure to put the Bobcats behind the Golden Flashes by three points. The Bobcats ended the quarter with a driving layup by McClure off an opponent turnover. The Golden Flashes led 42-41 going into the locker room.
 
Kent State got on the board first in the second half, but McClure and Dennis quickly responded with three-point jumpers to give Ohio its first lead since the first quarter. Both teams traded baskets to keep the score gap within two points for the majority of the quarter. Kent State would close the gap to one point after a three-point play, but Dennis put Ohio ahead sinking a three-pointer. McClure closed the quarter with an exciting buzzer-beater three-point jumper. The Bobcats led 61-57 going into the final ten minutes of play.
 
Kent State began the quarter with possession of the ball, but Ohio was determined to keep the team off the board by being aggressive on defense. The Bobcats forced the Golden Flashes to run out the shot clock and gained back possession of the ball. Watkins had a three-point play after drawing a foul on offense, furthering Ohio's lead. Redshirt junior Madi Mace (Parkersburg, W. Va.) added points to the board with a driving layup assisted by Watkins. McClure sank another three-point jumper, forcing Kent State to call a timeout. Out of the timeout, Ohio continued to press on defense not allowing Kent State to score. Tabeling scored a three-point jumper to put Ohio ahead by seven with five minutes remaining in the game.
 
Mace had an exciting three-point jumper assisted by Watkins to further Ohio's lead. Williams had an intense block on the other end to stop the Golden Flashes from scoring. Ohio called a 30-second timeout with three minutes left on the clock. Kent State attempted a defensive press against Ohio, but Ohio broke through with a layup by McClure, forcing Kent State to call a timeout. Out of the timeout, Ohio played aggressively on defense and forced Kent State to turn over the ball. With 38 seconds left on the clock, Ohio had a three-point lead. Kent State sunk a three-point jumper on the other end to tie the score with 19 seconds on the clock, but McClure drew a foul on offense and went 2-of-2 at the stripe giving Ohio the lead once more.Ohio led by two points with 10 seconds remaining in the game, forcing Kent State to call its final timeout of the game. Kent State had a player-controlled foul on defense, giving Ohio possession of the ball. The Golden Flashes had possession of the ball with four seconds remaining, but after an impressive defensive press, the Bobcats succeeded winning 79-77.
 
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 played started in 11 of 16 games, amassing 203 points.
 
McClure ranks second on the team with 52 assists, is tied for third for points and has recorded nine double-figure point games. She tallied a career-best 26 points and seven rebounds versus Kent State (2/21). Against Syracuse (12/9), McClure recorded a career-best in 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 tallied a career-high 21 points at Toledo and versus Ball State. Watkins has tallied 217 points so far this season, ranks second on the team for scoring and has recorded 12 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 10.9 points, 3.7 rebounds per game and has tallied 11 blocks.
 
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 (92/3.8 RPG) and has netted 127 points. Mace reached 300 career rebounds after grabbing four versus Syracuse and reached 500 career points after she netted a season-best 16 points at Kent State. Against Eastern Michigan, Mace recorded a career-best seven assists.
 
DEPENDABLE KATE DENNIS
Junior Kate Dennis has remained a consistent player for Ohio, maintaining a spot in the starting lineup throughout all 24 games this season. Dennis has played 538 minutes for the Bobcats - averaging 22.4 minutes per game - tallied 140 points, 44 rebounds, 15 steals and seven blocks. She has only recorded 17 turnovers across 24 games, averaging less than one turnover per game. Dennis tallied a career-best 14 points against Kent State (2/21).
 
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 game since Amani Burke in 2018-19. The freshman ranks second in the MAC and 15th in the NCAA for 3PT FG percentage and has the second-best single-game performance for 3FGs made so far this season. Tabeling ranks first on the team for points with 225 total.
 
FRESHMEN 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 20 or more minutes per game and Williams has earned a position in the starting lineup in all 24 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 for majority of the season, she has a team-high 44 steals, ranks second in rebounds (86) and fourth in points (189). Fantroy is currently fifth in the MAC for steals per game, total steals and ranks third in the conference in game-high individual performances this season with her six steals at App State. Fantroy made her first career start at Ball State (2/3) and recorded a career-high 24 points versus Texas State (2/10).
 
Williams is tied for third on the team for points (203), ranks third for rebounds and first for assists. In Ohio's win over IUPUI, Williams tallied a career-high five assists. At Kent State, Williams recorded her first double-figure point game with a career-high 15 points. Against Eastern Michigan, she grabbed a career-best eight rebounds. In the team's win versus Miami, Williams matched her career best in steals with three total. She also recorded a career-best three blocks versus Kent State (2/21)
 
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. Since then, Guice has started in three games. Since her return, Guice has played in 19 games, making 11 starts. Guice recorded a career-best six rebounds against NIU (1/10) and Ball State (2/17).
 
TEAM STATISTIC CATEGORY LEADERS (TOP 3)
Points: Bailey Tabeling (225), Kennedi Watkins (217), Jaya McClure (203), Monica Williams (203)
Rebounds: Madi Mace (92), Laylay Fantroy (86), Monica Williams (78)
Assists: Monica Williams (53), Jaya McClure (52), Madi Mace (35)
Blocks: Kennedi Watkins (11), Kate Dennis (7), Cassidy Lafler (5)
Steals: Laylay Fantroy (44), Bailey Tabeling (37), Madi Mace (29), Kennedi Watkins (29)
 
MAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STATISTIC LEADERS (Thru 2/22)
Team Rankings (Top 5):
3PT FGs Made - 2nd (173)
3PT FGs Made Per Game - 2nd (7.2)
Free Throws Made - 4th (282)
Turnover Margin - 5th (2.13)
Turnovers Forced Per Game - 1st (21.7)
Total Steals - 2nd (257)
Steals Per Game - 1st (10.71)
 
Individual Rankings (Top 10):
3PT Field Goal Percentage - Bailey Tabeling, 2nd (.437)
3PT FGs Made - Bailey Tabeling, 3rd (55)
3PT FGs Made Per Game - Bailey Tabeling, 3rd (2.3)
Total Steals - Laylay Fantroy, 5th (44); Bailey Tabeling, 9th (37)
Steals Per Game - Laylay Fantroy, 5th (2.0); Bailey Tabeling, 10th (1.5)
 
Game-High Stats (Top 3):
Team Steals - 1st (20); Ohio at Central Michigan (1/24/24)
Individual 3PT FGs Made - Bailey Tabeling, 2nd (7); Ohio vs. Syracuse (12/9/23)
Individual Steals - Laylay Fantroy, 3rd (6); Ohio at App State (11/11/23)
 
OHIO IN THE NCAA STATISTIC RANKINGS (Thru 2/21)
Team Rankings (Top 25):
Turnovers Forced Per Game, 10th
 
Individual Rankings (Top 25):
3PT Field Goal Percentage - Bailey Tabeling, 15th
 
UP NEXT
The Bobcats will be back in action in the Convocation Center against Western Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
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