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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball team (10-17, 7-9 MAC) defeated the Central Michigan Chippewas (6-20, 4-12 MAC) 77-63 after an intense battle in the Convocation Center on Wednesday, Feb. 28.
Following the game, seniors Bengisu Alper (Istanbul, Turkey), Peyton Guice (Westerville, Ohio), Kailiah Johnson (Holland, Ohio), Madi Mace (Parkersburg, W. Va.), Kate Dennis (Rockford, Ill.) and Ella Pope (Orem, Utah) were honored for their contributions to the Bobcats and Ohio.
Overall, the Bobcats shot 45.5 percent from the field and 18.8 percent from the three-point arch. The Bobcats went 14-for-18 at the free-throw line. The Bobcats grabbed a total of 33 rebounds with 27 being defensive. Ohio's defense forced 29 turnovers and scored 34 points off them. Central Michigan outrebounded Ohio 50-33, but Ohio recorded an impressive 21 steals.
Individually, the Bobcats were led by sophomore Jaya McClure (Louisville, Ky.) with 19 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals. Freshman Laylay Fantroy (Palestine, Texas) with 14 points, six rebounds and five steals. Mace with 13 points and three rebounds. Dennis also added 10 points. Freshman Monica Williams (Indianapolis, Ind.) contributed with eight points, five assists and snagging seven steals.
Central Michigan won the tip, but freshman Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.) stormed in with a steal to allow Dennis to score a layup. Ohio fought hard on the other end to keep Central Michigan off the board, snagging rebounds and gaining possession of the ball. Williams snagged a defensive rebound and drove the ball down the court to assist McClure to a three-point jumper. McClure would further Ohio's lead with two additional layups off opponent turnovers. Ohio kept snagging steals to have an offensive advantage during the quarter.
Ohio's defense kept Central Michigan from scoring, only allowing one free throw. Central Michigan's first official basket of the game was five minutes into the quarter with a three-point jumper. Fantroy continued to add offensively for Ohio with a steal and driving layup. Dennis would follow with a layup off a turnover assisted by Fantroy. Williams snagged four steals in the first ten minutes of play, followed by Tabeling with two. Ohio led by seven points going into the second quarter.
The Chippewas began the second quarter with possession but were no match for Ohio's defense with a steal from McClure to assist Tabeling's layup. Williams would immediately follow with another steal and drawing a foul to go 2-for-2 at the line. Ohio went back-to-back in scoring with layups by McClure and Williams. Dennis would further Ohio's lead with a three-point jumper assisted by McClure. Fantroy snagged a steal on defense and allowed Mace to sink her first basket of the game.
Mace scored a three-point jumper assisted by junior Kennedi Watkins (Ballwin, Mo.) to set Ohio's lead to 16 points with four minutes remaining in the half. Mace would also go 2-for-2 at the stripe after drawing a foul on a layup, followed by an impressive offensive passing play to assist an exciting layup by Fantroy. Watkins added points in the quarter going 2-for-2 at the stripe. Fantroy ended the quarter stealing the ball and driving in for a layup. Ohio led by 16 going into the locker room.
Tabeling began the second half with a driving layup assisted by McClure followed by a steal. Dennis drew a foul on a layup and made the bonus free throw, earning a three-point play and furthering Ohio's lead to 21 points. Central Michigan began to crawl back on offense and closed the gap to eight points, forcing Ohio to call a timeout. Out of the timeout, Central Michigan sank a three-point jumper, but Mace quickly responded with a driving layup to keep Ohio on the board. Ohio and Central Michigan traded baskets for the remainder of the third quarter, but McClure ended the third quarter with a second-chance layup. Ohio led by eight points going into the final quarter of the game.
Mace began the fourth quarter with a layup in the paint assisted by Fantroy, followed by a layup by McClure. Mace would go 2-for-2 at the stripe drawing a foul on a layup. McClure would have a three-point play after drawing a foul in the paint, followed by Fantroy stealing the ball for another driving layup to force the Chippewas to call a timeout. Out of the timeout, Ohio kept Central Michigan off the board by pressing on defense. Fantroy extended Ohio's lead to 14 points with a second-chance layup.
McClure earned another three-point play drawing a foul in the paint with two minutes remaining in the game. Central Michigan attempted to use a defensive press against Ohio but would be unsuccessful. Alper added her first point of the game with a free throw after drawing a shooting foul. Ohio would finish the game with a second-chance layup made by Alper. Ohio defeated Central Michigan 77-63.
The Bobcats will travel to Akron, Ohio to take on the Akron Zips on Wednesday, March 6. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET and is available on ESPN+.
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