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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball team (2-9, 0-1 MAC) is set to travel to Northern Illinois (7-5, 1-0 MAC) for a conference matchup on Saturday, Jan. 4. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Northern Illinois currently has a 7-5 overall record heading into its game with Ohio. The Huskies most recently defeated Toledo, 59-58.
 
The Huskies average 67.6 PPG; shooting 43.9 percent from the field, 39.7 percent from the arc and 67.0 percent from the line. The team averages 39.4 rebounds, 14 assists and 5.1 steals per game. The Huskies have forced 13 turnovers per game.
 
NIU's opponents average 68.2 PPG; shooting 38.0 percent from the field, 29.9 percent from the arc and 71.5 percent from the field. Opponents average 36.8 rebounds, 14 assists and 10.1 steals per game. Opponents have forced Northern Illinois to give up 18.9 turnovers per game.
 
Alecia Doyle leads the team in scoring with a total of 157 points. Brooke Stonebraker has a team-high 87 rebounds and 12 blocks. Chelby Koker ranks first on the team for assists with 45 total. Three Huskies have a team-high eight steals this season.
 
SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio currently has a 2-9 overall record heading into its first conference road game at Northern Illinois. The Bobcats most recently fell in its conference opener versus Akron, 74-61.
 
The Bobcats average 57.8 PPG; shooting 35.7 percent from the field, 26.5 percent from the arc and 64.6 percent from the line. The team averages 33.2 rebounds, 10.7 assists and eight steals per game. Ohio has forced 16.1 turnovers per game and averages 12.2 points off turnovers.
 
Ohio's opponents average 75.3 PPG; shooting 41.2 percent from the field, 27.4 percent from the arc and 68.4 percent from the line. Opponents average 46.5 rebounds, 15.6 assists and 10.5 steals per game. Opponents have forced Ohio to give up 20.3 turnovers per game and average 20.7 points off turnovers.
 
Kennedi Watkins leads the team in scoring with a total of 132 points. Bailey Tabeling has a team-high 52 rebounds, 28 assists and 19 steals. Kate Dennis ranks first on the team for blocks with seven total.
 
ALL TIME VS NORTHERN ILLINOIS
The Bobcats lead the Huskies in their all-time series 24-23.
 
LAST TIME VS NORTHERN ILLINOIS
The Bobcats and the Huskies last met during the 2023-24 season. NIU defeated Ohio, 67-62.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio women's basketball team rang in the new year with Mid-American Conference play against Akron Wednesday (Jan. 1) afternoon. Ohio (2-9, 0-1 MAC) fell to Akron (7-6, 1-0 MAC) to the tune of 74-61.
 
"Playing a harder nonconference schedule, we were hoping it would get us ready for conference, and I think a little bit of it did. I think we just got a little tired and fatigued, and we let it get to us too much," sophomore guard Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.) said. "I think we learned a lot. There's a lot we're gonna work on in practice this week."
 
Ohio came out with a strong start with a 7-0 scoring run after an initial turnover. A block by senior guard Kate Dennis (Rockford, Ill.) helped Ohio keep Akron off the board during that time span. However, Akron's scoring troubles stayed in the last half of the first quarter, as it hit a scoring drought over two minutes near the buzzer. The Bobcats maintained their lead through the second quarter despite a brief scoring drought. Their defense kicked in to force the Zips into tough spots that produced a 1-for-7 skid in the last half of the quarter.
 
"I loved our first half defense," head coach Bob Boldon said. "We didn't have as many steals as I would have liked, but I thought we forced some tough shots. We had a number of different kids take charges."
 
After halftime, the Zips caught up to speed. They outscored the Bobcats 43 to 28 in the second half after adding pressure to their press. However, the Bobcats managed to keep their turnovers down with a season low 13.
 
Back-to-back 3-pointers from senior guard Kennedi Watkins (Ballwin, Mo.) and graduate student guard Anyssa Jones (Westerville, Ohio) picked at Akron's lead in the third quarter. Those two shots contributed to Ohio's second-best 3-point percentage of the season, 38% (9-for-24). Wednesday was Jones' first game back since Ohio faced George Washinton in mid-November. 
 
Watkins's 17 points on the afternoon marked her fifth game of the season with 15 or more points.
 
"It's a lot of my teammates working together with me, trying to get me the ball at the right spots, and then reading the defense, we work on it a lot of practice," Watkins said on her performance. She also tallied a team-high five rebounds and one assist.
 
Although it was Tabeling who lead the Bobcats in scoring, with a season-high 19 points — the third-best scoring performance of her career. She also had career-high six assists.
 
The Bobcats were unable to get back on track in the second half. They finished the game 21-for-57 (37%) from the field and 10-for-14 (71%) from the line. The Bobcats were out rebounded by the Zips 48 to 29.
 
THE WATKINS WAY
Senior Kennedi Watkins has a been an important presence on the court for Ohio this season. Through nine games, Watkins is averaging 14.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. The senior is currently shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from the arc. This season, Watkins has recorded three 20-point games and has led the team in scoring four times this season. She also recorded her first double-double as a Bobcats with 20 points and 10 rebounds at Wright State (12/24). Watkins ranks first on the team for scoring with a total of 132 points.
 
A NEW ROLE FOR BAILEY TABELING
After finishing her freshman season as one of the top 25 three-point shooters in the NCAA, sophomore Bailey Tabeling's role on the team has shifted to a point guard and playmaker this season.
 
Tabeling has started and played in every game this season, compiling a team-high 347 minutes played. The sophomore currently ranks first on the team for rebounds, assists, steal and sits at second on the team for points and blocks. Tabeling ranks fifth in the MAC for 3PT FG's made per game, ninth for defensive rebounds per game and seventh for free throw percentage.
 
DEPENDABLE KATE DENNIS
Senior Kate Dennis has been a consistent leader for the Bobcats on and off the court. Dennis has started and played in all 11 games this season, averaging 26.2 minutes per game. The senior has recorded four double-figure point games so far this season and has only tallied five turnovers, averaging less than one turnover per game. Dennis ranks first on the team for blocks, second for minutes played and third for points.
 
TEAM STATISTIC CATEGORY LEADERS (TOP 3)
Points: Kennedi Watkins (132), Bailey Tabeling (127), Kate Dennis (75)
Rebounds: Bailey Tabeling (52), Kennedi Watkins (47), Asiah Baxter (45)
Assists: Bailey Tabeling (28), Aliah McWhorter (16), Monica Williams (14)
Blocks: Kate Dennis (7), Emma Barnett (3), Aliah McWhorter (3), Bailey Tabeling (3), Kennedi Watkins (2)
Steals: Bailey Tabeling (19), Asiah Baxter (14), Kennedi Watkins (11)
Minutes Played: Bailey Tabeling (347), Kate Dennis (288), Asiah Baxter (246)
 
MAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STATISTICAL LEADERS (1/2)
Team Rankings (Top 5):
Opponent 3PT% - 4th (.274)
3PT FG's Made Per Game - 3rd (7.5)
Opponent FT% - 4th (.684)
Steals Per Game - 5th (8.00)
 
Individual Rankings (Top 10):
Points Per Game - Kennedi Watkins, 5th (14.7)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game - Bailey Tabeling, 9th (4.5)
Field Goal Percentage - Kennedi Watkins, 5th (.505)
Free Throw Percentage - Bailey Tabeling, 7th (.828)
3PT FG's Made Per Game - Bailey Tabeling, 5th (2.1)
 
Game Highs (Top 3):
Team FG Attempts - Ohio vs. Ohio Christian (12/3), 2nd (80)
Team 3PT FG Made - Ohio vs. Ohio Christian (12/3), 1st (14)
Team 3PT FG Attempts:
Ohio at Saint Louis (12/15), 1st (38)
Ohio vs. Bellarmine (11/10), 3rd (37)
Team Rebounds: Ohio vs. Ohio Christian (12/3), 3rd (57)
Individual 3PT FG Attempts:
Bailey Tabeling vs. Georgia Southern (11/4), 3rd (12)
 
LAST SEASON'S STANDOUTS
Among Ohio's returning players, several were standouts for the Bobcats during the 2023-24 season. Three Bobcats were recognized with 2023-24 MAC Postseason Honors for their impactful performances on the court last season.
 
Despite several inuries, junior Jaya McClure concluded her sophomore season as one of the Ohio's top performers. The All-MAC Honorable Mention made 21 appearances with 16 starts, ranked first on the team for assists (75), second for points (278) and recorded 35 steals. Throughout the season, McClure tallied a career-high 26 points, 11 FGM, nine assists, seven rebounds and seven FTM.
Senior Kennedi Watkins made an immediate impact for the Bobcats in her first season at Ohio. Along with McClure, Watkins was named an All-MAC Honorable Mention. She made 26 appearances with 21 starts, ranked first on the team in points (288), blocks (12), averaged 11.1 PPG, grabbed 98 rebounds and ranked eighth in the MAC for steals with 40 total. Watkins recorded a career-high 26 points, five blocks, 10 FGM and seven rebounds.
 
Sophomore Bailey Tabeling ended her debut season at Ohio as one of the top three-point shooters in MAC and NCAA. She was named to the MAC All-Freshman Team after ranking third on the team for points (260), second for steals (48), grabbing 75 rebounds and recording 32 assists. Tabeling ranked third in the MAC for three-point percentage, fourth for 3FGs per game and seventh for steals. The sophomore also ranked 24th in the NCAA for three-point percentage at the end of the season.
 
VETERAN BOBCATS
The Ohio women's basketball team has nine players returning for the 2024-25 season including the previously named standouts; Jaya McClure (Jr.), Kennedi Watkins (Sr.) and Bailey Tabeling (So.).
 
Guards Kate Dennis (Sr.) and Monica Williams (So.) were important contributors for the team and consistently part of Ohio's starting lineup last season. Both Bobcats started and played in all 30 games during the 2024-25 season.
Dennis played 697 minutes across 30 games. She finished the 2022-23 season with 183 points, 57 rebounds, eight assists, eight blocks and 17 steals. Dennis ranked second in three-pointers (47), 3PT % (.343), blocks and first for FT%. The senior averaged less than one turnover per game with 21 total last season. Dennis recorded multiple career bests last season including 14 points versus Kent State (2/21/24), four steals versus IUPUI (11/26/23) and four blocks at App State (11/11/23).
 
Williams played a team-high 788 minutes, averaging 26.3 minutes per game across 30 games. In her debut season with Ohio, she recorded 247 points, 68 assists, 101 rebounds, 42 steals and seven blocks. Williams ranked second on the team for assists, third for steals, blocks and fifth for blocks. The sophomore netted a season-high 15 points at Kent State (1/6/24), recorded a season-high eight rebounds versus Eastern Michigan (1/20/24), a season-high five assists & seven steals versus Central Michigan (3/2/24) and three blocks versus Kent State (2/21/24).
 
Coming off the bench last season, Asiah Baxter (So.) played 73 minutes across 12 games as a guard for Ohio. Baxters netted 13 points and shot 41.7 percent from the field. She also totaled 10 rebounds and two assists. Baxter played a season-high 21 minutes at Ball State (2/3/24)
 
Cassidy Lafler (Jr.), Emma Barnett (So.) and Aja Austin (Sr.) are Ohio's three returning forwards. All three Bobcats missed a large portion or the entirety of the  2023-24 season due to injuries.
 
WELCOME TO ATHENS
Ohio welcomes seven newcomers, including three freshmen, a redshirt freshman, sophomore and two transfers, to its 2024-25 roster.
 
Gigi Bower (Freshman; Powell, Ohio): A 5-9 guard, Bower joins the team after being a four-year letterwinner for basketball at Olentangy Liberty. She earned several honors including Second Team All-State, First Team All-OCC, OCC Central Player of the Year, First Team All-District 11, First Team All-Delaware County, Delaware County Player of the Year and SBC Live All Star. During the 2022-23 season, Bower set the record for the most three pointers in a season and helped her team to an OCC Championships title.
 
WELCOME TO ATHENS
Ohio welcomes seven newcomers, including three freshmen, a redshirt freshman, sophomore and two transfers, to its 2024-25 roster.
 
Gigi Bower (Freshman; Powell, Ohio): A 5-9 guard, Bower joins the team after being a four-year letterwinner for basketball at Olentangy Liberty. She earned several honors including Second Team All-State, First Team All-OCC, OCC Central Player of the Year, First Team All-District 11, First Team All-Delaware County, Delaware County Player of the Year and SBC Live All Star. During the 2022-23 season, Bower set the record for the most three pointers in a season and helped her team to an OCC Championships title.
 
Kiersten Cashell (Sophomore; Hilliard, Ohio): A 5-10 guard, Cashell was a four-year letterwinner for basketball at Hilliard Davidson High School. In 2022-23, Cash was a team captain, played in 22 games and averaged 12.5 points per game. The Hilliard native was named All-OCC Second Team and team MVP. Cashell received the Sharon Huesman Memorial and OCC Byron Prushing scholarships.
 
Anyssa Jones (Graduate Student; Westerville, Ohio): Prior to Ohio, Jones started her collegiate career at Ohio State before transferring to Dayton and playing for the Flyers for two seasons. At Dayton, the 5-10 guard appeared in 59 games, made 43 starts and averaged 27.8 minutes per game. In two seasons with the Flyers, she amassed a total of 541 points, 288 rebounds, 52 assists and 55 steals in her two seasons with the Flyers. At Ohio State, Jones appeared in 15 games, was two-time Scholar-Athlete Award recipient and earned 2021-22 Academic All-Conference honors.
 
Madison Lim (Redshirt Freshman; Marysville, Ohio):  A 5-10 guard, Lim was a four-year letterwinner for basketball at Mechanicsburg High School where she served as team captain. She was a recipient of the 2022-23 Scholar-Athlete Award. She helped her team to two conference championship titles and a birth to the 2023 District Semifinals. Lim started in all 25 games during senior season.
Aliah McWhorter (Graduate Student; Cincinnati, Ohio): A 6-1 guard, McWhorter enters her first year with the Bobcats spending four seasons playing at Wake Forest. She did not see action for two seasons due to injury. In total, McWhorter played in 19 games and made for start for the Demon Deacons. During the 2023-24 season, McWhorter appeared in 14 games, made one start versus North Carolina (2/18) and tallied 45 total minutes on the court.
 
Olivia Rinard (Freshman; Williamstown, W. Va.): A 5-5 guard, Rinard was a four-year letterwinner for basketball and soccer in high school. Rinard attended Williamstown High School for two years before transferring to Marietta High School for her junior and senior years. During her freshman season, Rinard's team competed at the West Virginia State Final Four.
 
Danni Scully (Freshman; Park Ridge, Ill.): A 6-1 forward, Scully was a four-year letterwinner for basketball at Nazareth Academy. She was a team captain, two-time All-Conference, a Montini Christmas First Team All-Tournament selection and named an All-State Honorable Mention. In 2023, Scully received the MVP Award in the state semi-final game. Scully helped her team to a 2022 State Runner Up finish and a 2023 State Championship title.
 
2024-25 MAC PRESEASON POLL/PRESEASON ALL-MAC
The Ohio women's basketball team was selected to finish sixth, tied with NIU, in the 2024-25 MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the league on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Ohio earned 64 points and was chosen to finish above Miami (OH) (44), Akron (43), Western Michigan (34), Eastern Michigan (23) and Central Michigan (20). Ball State (120) was selected to finish first in the conference with 10 first-place votes. Kent State (104) also received two first-place votes and was chosen to finish second in the conference. Ball State (8) was also selected to win the 2025 MAC Tournament, followed by Bowling Green (1), Buffalo (1), Kent State (1) and Toledo (1).
 
2024-25 PRESEASON ALL-MAC
Junior guard Jaya McClure was selected to the Preseason All-MAC Second Team, as announced by the league on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Last season, McClure was named an All-MAC Honorable Mention after appearing in 22 games and making 17 starts. McClure concluded the season with 278 points, 12.6 PPG, 75 assists, 35 steals and 56 rebounds. McClure ranked first on the team for assists and second for points.
 
BOBCATS STAFF: FAMILIAR FACES
Ohio returns almost its entire coaching staff from last season. Associate Head Coach Tavares Jackson joins head coach, Bob Bolden, in his 12th season with the Bobcats. Assistant Coach Chelsea Welch enters her third season and Director of Operations Ebony Pegues enters her fourth season with the program.  Kaylee Gregory Bambule has been promoted to an assistant coach position after serving as video coordinator for two seasons. Former Bobcat, Abby Garnett, returns to Athens for her first season as assistant coach with Ohio.
 
UP NEXT
The Bobcats will be back in action when they travel to Western Michigan for a game on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
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