CINCINNATI – The Ohio women's basketball team (2-2, 0-0 MAC) fell 74-53 at Xavier (3-2, 0-0 BIG EAST) on Thursday, Nov. 20.
 
Ohio shot 32.2 percent from the field, 21.6 percent from the line and 46.7 percent from the line. The Bobcats finished with 35 rebounds, 13 assists, 10 steals and four blocks.
 
Graduate student Aliah McWhorter (Cincinnati, Ohio) led the Bobcats in scoring with 15 points; shooting 6-for-11 from the field and 3-for-5 from the line. Freshman ReRe Jennings grabbed a team-high and career-high six rebounds. Once again, junior Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.) led the team in assists with four total. Redshirt sophomore Monica Williams (Indianapolis, Ind.) tallied a team-high three steals.
 
Xavier kicked off the game with five unanswered points. The Bobcats got on the board off a pullup jumper by McWhorter. A second chance three pointer by Tabeling tied the game at 5-5 with 7:00 to go in the quarter. With 4:54 left in the first, the Musketeers held a 9-5 lead over the Bobcats. Ohio took a 10-9 lead off a layup by redshirt sophomore Bella Ranallo (Lake Forest, Ill.) with 2:56 left on the clock. Xavier retook the lead, 15-12, with 1:27 to go. Junior Asiah Baxter (Indianapolis, Ind.) was able to grab a basket off a rebound for Ohio in the final seconds. After the first quarter of play, Xavier led Ohio 17-14.
 
Ohio faced more challenges in the second quarter, allowing Xavier to extend its lead. At 6:56 left on the clock, the Bobcats trailed the Musketeers 25-16. Bower ended Ohio's 2:11 scoring drought with a driving layup at 5:33 left in the quarter. With under two minutes to go, Xavier led Ohio 35-18. Ohio scored off two plays in the final minute of the half: a three pointer by sophomore Gigi Bower (Powell, Ohio) and layup by McWhorter. Heading into the locker room, Ohio trailed Xavier 35-23.
 
The Bobcats challenged the Musketeers in the third quarter. Xavier led 43-31 with 7:26 left on the clock. Xavier experienced a 2:31 scoring drought as the Bobcats slowly closed in on the Musketeers' lead. With under two minutes to go in the quarter, Ohio trailed Xavier 50-41. The Musketeers were able to grab a couple of baskets in the final minutes, to cushion its lead slightly. At the end of the third quarter, the Bobcats trailed the Musketeers 56-41.
 
Ohio put up a hard fight, specifically in the third and fourth quarter, but ultimately fell to Xavier 74-53.
 
The Bobcats will be back in action when they host Wright State in the Convo on Monday, Nov. 24. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
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