ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball (3-11, 1-3 MAC) fell to Kent State (10-6, 3-1 MAC) 79-64 on Saturday, Jan. 11.
 
Senior Kennedi Watkins (Ballwin, Mo.) led the team in scoring and rebounds, with 21 points and eight boards. Watkins finished 7-for-19 from the field and 6-for-7 from the line. Senior Kate Dennis (Rockford, Ill.) added 12 points; shooting 4-for-8 from the field and 4-for-8 from the arc.
 
Sophomore Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ohio) recorded a team-high three steals. Tabeling and graduate student Aliah McWhorter (Cincinnati, Ohio) tallied a team-high four assists each.
 
The game got off to a slow start for both teams. Neither team scored for almost three minutes. Freshman Gigi Bower (Powell, Ohio) got the scoring started with a jumper at 7:33 left in the quarter. The game stayed close throughout the quarter with Kent State maintaining a small lead over Ohio. At the end of the first, the Bobcats trailed the Golden Flashes 20-17.
 
A three pointer off the glass from Watkins tied the game at 22-22 with 7:03 to go in the second quarter. Dennis gave the Bobcats their first lead of the game with a three pointer at 6:18. Ohio went on a scoring drought for over two minutes, allowing Kent State to cut the Bobcats' lead to 31-30 with under two minutes to go in the half. The teams traded several baskets in the final minute of the second quarter, but Tabeling's coast-to-coast basket at the buzzer gave Ohio a 36-34 lead heading into the locker room.
 
The third quarter was tough for Ohio as Kent State's offense unleashed on the Bobcats. The Golden Flashes outscored the Bobcats, 25-12. Kent State led 59-48 heading into the final quarter of the game.
 
Ohio was unable to muster a comeback in the fourth quarter and ultimately fell to Kent State, 79-64.
 
The Bobcats will be back in action when they host Bowling Green on Wednesday, Jan. 15. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
#OUohyeah