ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball team (1-0, 0-0 MAC) is set to host its home opener against Columbia (1-0, 0-0 IVY) in the Convocation Center on Sunday, Nov. 9. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING COLUMBIA
Columbia has a 1-0 overall record after earning a 74-69 overtime win at Butler.
 
The Lions average 74.0 PPG; shooting 40.0 percent from the field, 27.8 percent from the arc and 59.1 percent from the line. The team averages 39 rebounds, 13 assists, 15 steals and one block per game. The Lions ave forced 29 turnovers per game and average 28 points off turnovers.
 
Columbia's opponents average 69.0 PPG; shooting 50.0 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from the arc and 64.3 percent from the line. Opponents average 37 rebounds, 14 assists, eight steals and one block per game. Opponents have forced Columbia to give up 18 turnovers per game and average 18 points off turnovers.
 
SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio has a 1-0 overall record after opening the 2025-26 season with a 72-66 win at Texas State.
 
The Bobcats average 72.0 PPG; shooting 42.6 percent from the field, 25.0 percent from the arc and 67.9 percent from the line. The team averages 30 rebounds, 13 assists and 17 steals per game. The Bobcats have forced 34 turnovers per game and average 28 points off turnovers.
 
Ohio's opponents average 66.0 PPG; shooting 48.0 percent from the field, 47.8 percent from the arc and 63.6 percent from the line. Opponents average 32 rebounds, 13 assists and 10 steals. Opponents have forced Ohio to give 23 turnovers per game and average 26 points off turnovers.
 
LAST TIME VS COLUMBIA
Ohio and Columbia last played each other during the 2022-23 season when Ohio fell to Columbia, 91-59.
 
ALL TIME VS COLUMBIA
Columbia leads Ohio in the two teams' all-time series, 1-0.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio women's basketball team (1-0, 0-0 MAC) defeated Texas State (0-1, 0-0 SBC) 72-66 in a scrappy battle on Monday, Nov. 3.
 
Ohio shot 42.6 percent from the field, 25.0 percent from the arc and 67.9 percent from the line. The Bobcats finished with 30 rebounds, 13 assists, three blocks and 17 steals.
 
Ohio found most of its success under the basket and on transition. The Bobcats scored 30 points in the paint and 28 points off turnovers.
 
Graduate student Elli Garnett (Golden, Colo.) led the team in scoring with 20 points; shooting 6-for-9 from the field, 3-for-6 from the arc and 5-for-6 from the line. Junior Asiah Baxter (Indianapolis, Ind.) was Ohio's top rebounder of the night. Baxter grabbed six rebounds and scored 13 points. Junior Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.) recorded a team-high four assists and four steals.
 
The game was close from the start with both teams being tied at 16-16 at the end of the first quarter. Ohio has a strong second quarter, outscoring Texas State 22-13. Ohio led Texas State 38-29 heading into the locker room.
 
Texas State answered back in the third quarter with 17 points and limited Ohio to only eight during the 10 minute period. At the end of the third quarter, the two teams were tied at 46-46.
 
Ohio bounced back from the third quarter. The Bobcats dropped 26 points in the fourth quarter to win the game 72-66.
 
VETERAN BOBCATS
The Ohio women's basketball team has nine players returning for the 2025-26 season.
 
Among Ohio's returners is standout Bailey Tabeling, a junior guard who led the Bobcats in almost all statistical categories last season. Tabeling played and started in all 29 games, compiled 897 minutes played and averaged 30.9 minutes per game. Last season, Tabeling finished with a team-high 121 rebounds (4.2), 68 assists and 57 steals. She also ranked second on the team for points with 361 points total. Tabeling averaged 12.4 PPG; shooting 35.8 percent from the field, 27.8 percent from the arc and 76.1 percent from the line.
 
Throughout the 2024-25 season, Tabeling recorded 18 double-figure point games and her first-career double-double. She also led the team in scoring in nine games, led the team in rebounds in seven games, led the team in assists in 14 games and led the team in steals in 11 games.
 
Graduate student Aliah McWhorter is another important returner for Ohio this season. With the departure of talented leaders, McWhorter is one of the most experienced players on the team. Last season, McWhorter played in 27 games, making four starts, playing 682 minutes and averaging 25.3 minutes per game. The graduate student finished with 175 points (6.5 PG), 67 rebounds (2.5 PG), 52 assists, 32 steals and nine blocks. She averaged 6.5 PPG; shooting 42.4 percent from the field, 37.0 percent from the arc and 67.1 percent form the line. McWhorter also ranked second on the team for assists.
 
After experiencing a season-ending injury in the beginning of last season, redshirt sophomore Monica Williams returns to the court for the Bobcats. In only six games, Williams recorded 45 points (7.5 PG), 34 rebounds (45.7 PG), 14 assists, 10 steals and one block.
 
Other notable returners that earned spots in the starting lineup last season includes junior Asiah Baxter and sophomore Gigi Bower. Baxter appeared in 29 games, making 26 starts and amassing 604 minutes (20.8 PG). She finished with 91 points, 99 rebounds (3.4 PG), 34 assists, 24 steals and three blocks. Baxter averaged 3.1 PPG; shooting 28.9 percent from he field, 26.3 percent from the arc and 60.6 percent from the line. Baxter also led the team in rebounds in four games, in assists in five games and in steals in two games.
 
Bower appeared in 26 games and made 11 starts during her freshman season. She amassed 509 minutes played and averaged 19.6 minutes per game. Bower finished with 106 points, 52 (2.0 PG), 32 assists, 16 steals and two blocks. Bower averaged 4.1 PPG; shooting 31.1 percent from the field, 26.0 percent from the arc and 69.0 percent from the line. She recorded the first 20-point game of her career against Ohio Christian with a career-high 21 points. 
 
Coming off the bench for Ohio is sophomore Danni Scully and senior Cassidy Lafler. In her debut season with Ohio, Scully appeared in 26 games, amassed 429 minutes played and averaged 16.5 minutes per game. She finished the season with 64 points, 61 rebounds, 16 assists, 13 steals and four blocks.
 
After missing most of the 2023-24 season due to injury, Lafler appeared in 21 games and amassed 265 minutes player (12.6 PG). She finished with 61 points, 37 rebounds, 12 assists, 10 steals and six blocks.
 
WELCOME TO ATHENS
Ohio welcomes five newcomers, including two freshmen and three transfers to its 2025-26 roster.
 
Elli Garnett (Graduate Student; Lakewood, Colo.): A 5-11 forward, Garnett joins the Bobcats after playing at Nicholls State for a season. During the 2024-25 season, she played in 31 games, making 31 starts and amassing 874 minutes played (28.2 PG). Garnett recorded 256 points (8.3 PG), 193 rebounds (6.2 PG), 43 assists, 38 steals and four blocks. Garnett shot 37.0 percent from the field, 23.4 percent from the arc and 68.5 percent from the line.
 
ReRe Jennings (Freshman; Killeen, Texas): A 5-11 guard, Jennings played basketball at Harker Heights High School. She has garnered several awards and honors including being 2025 McDonald's All-American nominee. Jennings' other accolades include 2024-25 All-State Basketball honoree, District 12-6A MVP, 12-6A First Team All-District, 5A-6A Legacy Basketball All-Star and 2024-25 Lady Knights Offensive MVP. In her high school career, she scored more than 1,500 points. Jennings led her team to a 25-10 overall record and a 12-6A District Championships title.
 
Vivienne Macheck (Freshman; Embrach, Zürich): A 5-10 guard, Macheck played basketball basketball at the United School of Sports, Macheck also played basketball at Napoleon High School (Ohio) from 2021-22. She was a member of the u23 BC Alte Kanti Arau team, serving as captain in 2024 and 2025. Macheck helped the u23 BC Alte Kanti Arau team to a 2025 Swiss National Championship title. During the 2024-25 season, Macheck appeared in 43 games with the team. 
 
Antonicia Moultrie (Junior; Nassau, Bahamas):  A 5-9 guard, Moultrie played two seasons at Garden City Community College. She played a total of 59 games, made 59 starts and accumulated 2,192 minutes played. Moultrie tallied 709 points; shooting 48.3 percent from the field, 21.7 percent from the arc and 77.1 percent from the line. Moultrie also averagd 10.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.9 steals per game. At Garden City CC, she recorded 36 double-figure point games and 19 double-doubles.
 
Bella Ranallo (Redshirt Sophomore; Lake Forest, Ill.): A 5-6 guard, Ranallo played two seasons at Clemson before joining the Bobcats. During the 2023-24, Ranallo played in seven games for the Tigers. She also recorded three points, two assists and one rebound. Ranallo was also a four-year letterwinner for basketball at Lake Forest High School. During high school, she was three-time all-conference honoree and reached the 1,000 points milestone as a senior. Ranallo earned the Outstanding Senior Athlete award and led her team to two regional championships.
 
2025-26 MAC PRESEASON POLL
The Ohio women's basketball team was selected to finish 10th in the 2025-26 Mid-American Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the league on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
 
Kent State was picked to finish first with 133 points and five first-place votes. Toledo (118) and UMass (115) also received first-place votes and were picked to finished second and third, respectively. The Golden Flashes were also picked to win the MAC Championships with UMass, Toledo, Ball State and Miami also receiving votes.
 
2025-26 MAC-SBC CHALLENGE
The MAC-SBC Challenge -- the third installment of a scheduling alliance in men's and women's basketball -- will tip off on Monday, Nov. 3, with 13 Mid-American Conference (MAC) men's basketball programs hosting 13 Sun Belt Conference (SBC) teams, while the 13 MAC women's basketball programs will visit 13 SBC teams.
 
The second MAC-SBC Challenge contest for each team will take place in February, with the matchups based on real-time NET rankings and announced in January. The MAC women and Sun Belt men will host the February matchups.
 
Each MAC and Sun Belt team included in the MAC-SBC Challenge is guaranteed one home and one away game each season. Scheduling assistance is provided by Ordinal Sports Group. In addition to relevant NET data, geography and frequency of past contests are considered in determining the matchups. Each MAC-SBC Challenge game will be carried on an ESPN platform.
 
BOBCATS STAFF: FAMILIAR FACES
Ohio returns its entire coaching staff from last season. Associate Head Coach Tavares Jackson joins head coach, Bob Bolden, in his 13th season with the Bobcats. All of Ohio's assistant coaches return this season with Chelsea Welch and Kaylee Gregory Bambule entering their fourth season and Abby Garnett entering her second season. Director of Operations Ebony Pegues enters her fifth season with the program.
 
UP NEXT
The Bobcats will be back in action against Morehead State on Thursday, Nov. 13 in the Convo. Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
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