CLEVELAND, Ohio – 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.
 
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