ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball team (4-19, 2-10 MAC) battled hard but ultimately fell to Buffalo (20-4, 11-1 MAC) by a score of 79-67 on Saturday afternoon.
The matchup marked Ohio's annual Pink Game, as the Bobcats participated in Play4Kay to support the fight against breast cancer. Fans were encouraged to wear pink in solidarity with the cause, and donations were collected to contribute to the team's fundraising efforts.
Sophomore Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.) paced the Bobcats' offense with 19 points, shooting an efficient 7-of-10 from the field and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. She also contributed three assists and three steals. Graduate student Anyssa Jones (Westerville, Ohio) added 12 points, knocking down two three-pointers and going 4-of-6 from the free-throw line. Senior Kate Dennis (Rockford, Ill.) was perfect from the floor, scoring 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting, including two three-pointers.
Ohio pushed to score but Buffalo ultimately took control of the first half. The Bobcats trailed 49-37 at the break but kept themselves within reach behind Tabeling's hot shooting from deep. Ohio shot 47.8% from three-point range as a team, connecting on 11 of its 23 attempts.
The Bobcats fought to close the gap in the second half, getting to the free-throw line frequently in the third quarter. Ohio converted 13-of-18 attempts from the line in the second half, capitalizing on Buffalo's defensive fouls. Despite their strong shooting performance, turnovers became a challenge, as Ohio gave the ball away 31 times, allowing Buffalo to extend its lead.
Defensively, Ohio put up a strong effort, grabbing 13 steals and forcing 14 turnovers. Graduate student Aliah McWhorter (Cincinnati, Ohio) played a key role on the boards, pulling down six rebounds while adding eight points and two steals. Freshman Danni Scully (Park Ridge, Ill.) and sophomore Asiah Baxter (Indianapolis, Ind.) each contributed on the court, combining for eight rebounds.
Ohio finished the game with 32 total rebounds, 11 assists, and three blocks. Despite a solid showing from beyond the arc and at the free-throw line, the Bobcats were unable to overcome their turnovers down the stretch.
The Bobcats will return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 19, when they host Northern Illinois at the Convocation Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, with the game streaming live on ESPN+.
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