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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball team (7-14, 4-7 MAC) is set to host Texas State (12-12, 3-9 SBC) in the Convocation Center for its second-round matchup of the MAC-SBC Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 10. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING TEXAS STATE
Heading into its matchup with Ohio, Texas State has a 12-12 overall and 3-9 conference record. Texas State averages 64.8 points per game; shooting 39.8 percent from the field, 32.7 percent from the arc and 73.7 percent from the line. Texas State averages 35.4 rebounds, 11.8 assists and 8.5 steals per game. Texas State has forced 18.6 turnovers per game and average 18 points off turnovers.
 
Opponents average 60.6 points per game; shooting 40.7 percent from the field, 26.3 percent from the arc and 68.9 percent from the line. Opponents average 35.4 rebounds, 10.8 assists and 7.9 steals per game. Opponents have forced Texas State to give up 16.5 turnovers per game and average 13.9 points off turnovers.
 
Ja'Niah Henson leads Texas State in scoring with 357 points in addition to being tied for first on team for assists (43) with Kennedy Claybrooks and steals (30) with Sierra Dickson. Tiffany Tullis has been Texas State's top rebounder, grabbing a team-high 161 rebounds.
 
SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats are 7-14 overall and 4-7 in conference play heading into their game with Texas State. Ohio averages 62.7 points per game; shooting 37.7 percent from the field, 28.3 percent from the arc and 67.7 percent from the line. Ohio averages 31.5 rebounds, 11 assists and 10.7 steals per game. The Bobcats have forced 22 turnovers per game and average 19.4 points off turnovers.
 
Meanwhile, opponents average 71.9 points per game; shooting 43.3 percent from the field, 25.9 percent from the arc and 70.6 percent from the line. Opponents average 42.9 rebounds, 15.4 assists and 9.9 steals per game. Opponents have forced Ohio to give up 19.9 turnovers per game and have scored an average of 21.4 points off turnovers.
 
Bailey Tabeling leads the Bobcats in scoring with 196 points. Madi Mace has grabbed a team-high 85 rebounds, Monica Williams leads the team with 46 assists and Laylay Fantroy has a team-high 37 steals.
 
MAC-SBC CHALLENGE
The MAC-SBC Challenge - a scheduling alliance in the sports of men's and women's basketball - announced its second round of matchups on Jan. 22. Current NET rankings, projected season finish and previous cross-conference contests were all considered when making the pairing. Ohio's first round matchup of the MAC-SBC Challenge at Appalachian State took place in November served as the team's season opener.
 
ALL TIME VS TEXAS STATE
Ohio's upcoming matchup against Texas State will be the first meeting between the two teams in program history.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio women's basketball (7-14, 4-7 MAC) fell 69-52 to Bowling Green (12-9, 6-5 MAC) on Saturday, Feb. 7.
 
Freshman Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.) was Ohio's top performer of the night with 22 points, four rebounds and three steals. Tabeling shot 53.3 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from the arc.
 
Freshman Laylay Fantroy (Palestine, Texas) recorded four rebounds and 11 points; finishing five-for-nine from the field. Senior Peyton Guice (Westerville, Ohio) also grabbed a team-high four rebounds and three assists.
 
The Bobcats came out strong, finding success from the three-point line. Ohio led 12-7 with 3:24 left in the first, but a small scoring drought allowed Bowling Green to catch up with the Bobcats. At the end of the quarter, Ohio and Bowling Green were tied at 20-20.
 
The baskets did not fall in Ohio's favor during the second quarter. Bowling Green took its first lead of the game and continued on a dominate scoring run. The Bobcats created several great opportunities but were unable to finish of them. Bowling Green led Ohio, 38-24, heading into the locker room.
 
At the end of the first half, Tabeling had a team-high 11 points and two steals. Sophomore Jaya McClure (Louisville, Ky.) led in rebounds with three total.
 
Ohio improved on its scoring and rebounding in the third quarter, recording 16 points and nine rebounds. The Bobcats shortened Bowling Green's lead to 52-40 heading into the final quarter of the game.
 
Bowling Green went on to win the game over Ohio, 69-52.
 
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 nine of 13 games, amassing 157 points.
 
McClure ranks second on the team with 40 assists and has recorded seven double figure point games. She matched her season-best in points for the third time this season with 21 at Bellarmine (12/30). Against Syracuse (12/9), McClure recorded a career-best in rebounds (6), 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). At Toledo, she tallied a career-best 21 points. Watkins has tallied 177 points so far this season, ranks third on the team in scoring and has recorded 10 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 10.4 points, 3.9 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 (85/4.0 RPG) and has netted 114 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 21 games this season. Dennis has played 467 minutes for the Bobcats - averaging 22.2 minutes per game - tallied 118 points, 37 rebounds, 13 steals and seven blocks. She has only recorded 16 turnovers across 21 games, averaging less than one turnover per game.
 
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 third in the MAC and 22nd in the NCAA for 3FG percentage (.434) and leads the conference with the top single-game performance for 3FGs made so far this season. Tabeling ranks first on the team for points with 196 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 21 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 37 steals, ranks second in rebounds (73) and fourth in points (160). Fantroy is currently sixth in the MAC for steals per game, seventh for 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 and tallied a career-best 19 points at Ball State (2/3).
 
Williams ranks first on the team for points (180), third for rebounds (67) and first for assists (44). 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.
 
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 16 games, making 10 starts.  Against NIU (1/10), Guice recorded a career-best six rebounds.
 
TEAM STATISTIC CATEGORY LEADERS (TOP 3)
Points: Bailey Tabeling (196), Monica Williams (181), Kennedi Watkins (177)
Rebounds: Madi Mace (85), Laylay Fantroy (73), Monica Williams (68)
Assists: Monica Williams (46), Jaya McClure (43), Madi Mace (34)
Blocks: Kennedi Watkins (11), Kate Dennis (7), Cassidy Lafler (5)
Steals: Laylay Fantroy (37), Bailey Tabeling (33), Madi Mace (29)
 
MAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STATISTIC LEADERS (Thru 2/8)
Team Rankings (Top 5):
3PT FGs Made - 2nd (152)
3PT FGs Made Per Game - 3rd (7.2)
Free Throws Made - 5th (251)
Turnover Margin - 4th (2.05)
Total Steals - 2nd (225)
Steals Per Game - 2nd (10.71)
 
Individual Rankings (Top 10):
3PT Field Goal Percentage - Bailey Tabeling, 3rd (.434)
3PT FGs Made - Bailey Tabeling, 3rd (46)
3PT FGs Made Per Game - Bailey Tabeling, 3rd (2.2)
Free Throws Made - Monica Williams, 10th (50)
Free Throw Percentage - Laylay Fantroy, 10th (.731)
Total Steals - Laylay Fantroy, 7th (37); Bailey Tabeling, 9th (33)
Steals Per Game - Laylay Fantroy, 6th (1.9); Bailey Tabeling, 9th (1.6)
 
Game-High Stats (Top 3):
Team Steals - 1st (20); Ohio at Central Michigan (1/24/24)
Individual 3PT FGs Made - Bailey Tabeling, 1st (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 2/7)
Team Rankings (Top 25):
Turnovers Forced Per Game, 8th
 
Individual Rankings (Top 25):
3PT Field Goal Percentage - Bailey Tabeling, 22nd
 
UP NEXT
The Bobcats will be back in action in the Convocation against Ball State on Saturday, Feb. 17. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
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