ATHENS, Ohio – The No. 7 seed Ohio women's basketball team (11-18, 8-10 MAC) will face the No. 2 seed Ball State (27-4, 16-2 MAC) in the MAC Tournament Quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 13 at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. Tip-off is set for approximately 4 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING BALL STATE
Heading into its matchup with Ohio, Ball State has a 27-4 overall and 16-2 conference record. Ball State averages 73.7 points per game; shooting 44.9 percent from the field, 33.4 percent from the arc and 70.9 percent from the line. Ball State averages 33.6 rebounds, 15.9 assists and 10.6 steals per game. The Cardinals have forced 19.8 turnovers per game and average 20.3 points off turnovers.
 
Opponents average 60.5 points per game; shooting 41.2 percent from the field, 31.4 percent from the arc and 68 percent from the line. Opponents average 34.7 rebounds, 12.7 assists and 6.6 steals per game. Opponents have forced Ball State to give up 14.4 turnovers per game and average 13.2 points off turnovers.
 
Ally Becki leads Ball State in scoring with 398 points. Marie Kiefer has grabbed a team-high 160 rebounds. Nyla Hampton ranks first on the team with 152 assists and 104 steals.
 
SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats are 11-18 overall and 8-10 in conference play heading into their game with Ball State. Ohio averages 64.2 points per game; shooting 39.3 percent from the field, 28.5 percent from the arc and 68.5 percent from the line. Ohio averages 31.2 rebounds, 11.4 assists and 11 steals per game. The Bobcats have forced 21.3 turnovers per game and average 19.2 points off turnovers.
 
Meanwhile, opponents average 71.3 points per game; shooting 42.3 percent from the field, 30.5 percent from the arc and 73.2 percent from the line. Opponents average 42.1 rebounds, 15 assists and 9.1 steals per game. Opponents have forced Ohio to give up 18.7 turnovers per game and have scored an average of 19.2 points off turnovers.
 
Kennedi Watkins leads the team in scoring with 285 points. Laylay Fantroy has grabbed a team-high 108 rebounds and recorded a team-high 54 steals. Jaya McClure ranks first on the team with 74 assists.
 
LAST TIME VS BALL STATE
Ohio and Ball State met twice during the regular season with the Cardinals winning both matchups.
 
ALL TIME VS BALL STATE
The Bobcats lead in their series with Ball State 39-33 and have four of the last 10 matchups.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio women's basketball team (11-18, 8-10 MAC) concluded the regular season with a 68-64 loss at Miami (9-20, 6-12 MAC) on Saturday, March 9.
 
Three Bobcats recorded a double figure point game led by junior Kennedi Watkins (Ballwin, Mo.) who scored a team-high 14 points in addition to grabbing a team-high six rebounds. Sophomore Jaya McClure (Louisville, Ky.) tallied 11 points and a team-high three assists. Redshirt junior Madi Mace (Parkersburg, W. Va.) finished with 10 points and five rebounds.
 
It was a slow start for the Bobcats as they struggled to find success on offense. After the first quarter, Miami led Ohio 17-7. Miami continued to dominate offensively, leading the Bobcats 33-17 at halftime.
 
Ohio's offensive effort improved in the third quarter in addition to the team's overall energy. The Bobcats outscored Miami in the third 21-18. McClure was a sharpshooter from the arc and freshman Laylay Fantroy (Palestine, Texas) earned several points for Ohio in the paint. Heading into the final quarter, Ohio trailed Miami 51-38.
 
From the start of the fourth quarter, Ohio faced aggressive play from the Redhawks. The Bobcats scored 27 points and made six steals as they sought out a comeback. With under a minute to go, Ohio trailed by seven points but a big three-pointer from junior Kate Dennis (Rockford, Ill.) cut Miami's lead to four. Despite the turnaround and hard fight by the Bobcats, Miami came away with a 68-64 win.
 
2023-24 MAC POSTSEASON AWARDS
Jaya McClure, All-MAC Honorable Mention
Kennedi Watkins, All-MAC Honorable Mention
Bailey Tabeling, MAC All-Freshmen Team
 
2024 MAC TOURNAMENT BRACKET
Wednesday, March 13th, 2024 - Quarterfinals
Game 1: No. 1 Toledo vs. No. 8 Western Michigan, 11 AM ET (ESPN+)
Game 2: No. 4 Buffalo vs. No. 5 Bowling Green, Time TBA* (ESPN+)
Game 3: No. 2 Ball State vs. No. 7 Ohio, Time TBA* (ESPN+)
Game 4: No. 3 Kent State vs. No. 6 Northern Illinois, Time TBA* (ESPN+)
 
Friday, March 15th, 2024 - Semifinals
Game 5: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner, 10 AM ET (ESPN+)
Game 6: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner, Time TBA* (ESPN+)
 
Saturday, March 16th, 2024 – MAC Championship Game
Game 7: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner, 11 AM ET (CBS Sports Network)
 
*30 minutes following the completion of the first game of the session.
 
BOBCATS CLINCH SPOT IN CLEVELAND
With their 72-63 win at Akron, the Bobcats clinched a spot in the 2024 MAC Tournament Cleveland. No. 7 seed Ohio is set to play No. 2 seed Ball State in game three of the tournament. The eight teams set to compete in Cleveland are Toledo, Ball State, Kent State, Buffalo, Bowling Green, Ohio, Western Michigan and Northern Illinois.
 
SHARING THE WEALTH ON OFFENSE
Ohio has five players who have recorded 200 or more points throughout this season and three other players have scored over 100 points this season. Five Bobcats have recorded 10 or more double figure point games this season.
 
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 16 of 21 games, amassing 285 points. McClure ranks second on the team for points, first for assists and has recorded 14 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). McClure led the team with 19 points and a career-high seven rebounds versus Central Michigan (3/2)
 
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). In the team's victory at Akron, Watkins led Ohio with a career-best 26 points. Watkins has tallied 285 points so far this season, ranks first on the team for scoring and has recorded 16 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 11.4 points, 3.8 rebounds per game and has tallied 12 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 second on the team for rebounds and has netted 154 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 29 games this season. Dennis has played 673 minutes for the Bobcats - averaging 23.2 minutes per game - tallied 183 points, 56 rebounds, 16 steals and eight blocks. She has only recorded 21 turnovers across 29 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 fourth in the MAC for 3PT FG percentage and has the second-best single-game performance for 3FGs made so far this season. Tabeling ranks third on the team for points with 253 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 29 games this season.
 
Williams ranks second on the team for assists, third for steals, rebounds, blocks and fourth for points. Williams tallied a career-high five assists in Ohio's wins over IUPUI (11/26) and Central Michigan (3/2). 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. She also recorded a career-best three blocks versus Kent State (2/21). Against Central Michigan (3/2), Williams recorded a career-high seven steals and is tied third for one of the best single-game steal performances in program history.
 
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 51 steals, ranks first in rebounds and fifth in points. Fantroy is currently third in the MAC for steals per game and fifth for total steals. Fantroy made her first career start at Ball State (2/3) and recorded a career-high 24 points versus Texas State (2/10).
 
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 24 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: Kennedi Watkins (285), Jaya McClure (272), Bailey Tabeling (253)
Rebounds: Laylay Fantroy (108), Madi Mace (103), Monica Williams (96)
Assists: Jaya McClure (74), Monica Williams (68), Madi Mace (40)
Blocks: Kennedi Watkins (12), Kate Dennis (8), Laylay Fantroy (6), Monica Williams (6)
Steals: Laylay Fantroy (54), Bailey Tabeling (47), Monica Williams (42)
 
MAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STATISTIC LEADERS (Thru 3/11)
Team Rankings (Top 5):
3PT FGs Made - 4th (205)
3PT FGs Made Per Game - 4th (7.1)
Free Throws Made - 4th (346)
Turnover Margin - 3rd (2.69)
Turnovers Forced Per Game - 1st (21.3)
Total Steals - 2nd (318)
Steals Per Game - 1st (10.97)
 
Individual Rankings (Top 10):
3PT Field Goal Percentage - Bailey Tabeling, 4th (.409)
3PT FGs Made - Bailey Tabeling, 4th (61)
3PT FGs Made Per Game - Bailey Tabeling, 3rd (2.1)
Free Throw Percentage - Kennedi Watkins, 10th (.727)
Total Steals - Laylay Fantroy, 5th (54); Bailey Tabeling, 7th (47)
Steals Per Game - Laylay Fantroy, 3rd (2.0); Bailey Tabeling, 7th (1.6)
 
Game-High Stats (Top 3):
Team 3PT FG Attempts - 2nd (39), Ohio vs. Buffalo (1/31/24); 3rd (37), Ohio at Bowling Green (2/7/24)
Team Steals - 1st (21), Ohio vs. Central Michigan (3/2/24); 2nd (20), Ohio at Central Michigan (1/24/24)
Individual 3PT FGs Attempts - Bailey Tabeling, 2nd (15); Ohio vs. Buffalo (1/31/24)
Individual 3PT FGs Made - Bailey Tabeling, 2nd (7); Ohio vs. Syracuse (12/9/23)
Individual Steals - Monica Williams, 3rd (7); Ohio vs. Central Michigan (3/2/24)
 
OHIO IN THE NCAA STATISTIC RANKINGS (Thru 3/10)
Team Rankings (Top 25):
Steals Per Game, 17th
Turnovers Forced Per Game, 7^th
 
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