ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball team (5-19, 3-10 MAC) is set to travel to Akron (9-17, 3-10 MAC) on Saturday, Feb. 22. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING AKRON
Akron has a 9-17 overall and 3-10 conference record heading into its matchup with Ohio.
 
The Zips average 63.0 PPG; shooting 40.4 percent from the field, 28.1 percent from the arc and 71.4 percent from the line. The team averages 36.7 rebounds, 10.9 assists and 6.4 steals per game. Akron has forced 14.5 turnovers per game and averages 14.2 points off turnovers.
 
Akron's opponents 67.9 PPG; shooting 42.9 percent from the field, 33.5 percent from the arc and 71.3 percent from the line. Opponents average 33.7 rebounds, 12.4 assists and 8.2 steals per game. Opponents have forced Akron to give up 18.1 turnovers per game and average 19.1 points off turnovers.
 
SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio has a 5-19 overall and 3-10 conference record heading into its matchup at Akron.
 
The Bobcats average 58.0 PPG; shooting 37.0 percent from the field, 28.1 percent from the arc and 67.4 percent from the line. The team averages 31.8 rebounds, 10.4 assists and 8.5 steals per game. Ohio has forced 16.4 turnovers per game and averages 12.1 points off turnovers.
 
Ohio's opponents average 72.9 PPG; shooting 42.3 percent from the field, 31.6 percent from the arc and 72.8 percent from the line. Opponents average 42.6 rebounds, 17.3 assists and 9.3 steals per game. Opponents have forced Ohio to give up 18.7 turnovers per game and average 19 points off turnovers.
 
ALL TIME VS AKRON
The Bobcats lead the Zips in their all-time series, 49-24.
 
LAST TIME VS AKRON
The Bobcats and the Zips last met earlier this season. In the teams' last meeting, Akron earned a 74-61 win over Ohio.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio women's basketball team (5-19, 3-10 MAC) picked up an exciting 74-70 victory over the Northern Illinois Huskies (12-13, 5-8 MAC) in the Convocation Center on Wednesday night.
 
Ohio shot 49.1% from the field, 26.1%  from beyond the arc and went 16-of-20 from the line. Northern Illinois shot 38.5% from the field, 33.3% from deep and went 10-of-12 from the line. Northern Illinois outrebounded Ohio 38-31, but Ohio forced 11 turnovers and scored 12 points off them.
 
Overall, Ohio was led by senior guard Kenndi Watkins (Ballwin, Mo.) with 23 points, one block, five rebounds and two steals. Sophomore guard Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.) added 16 points and three rebounds. Graduate student guard Anyssa Jones added 12 points, four rebounds and one steal. Sophomore guard Asiah Baxter (Indianapolis, Ind.) added an additional eight points, two assists and four rebounds.
 
From the tip, Watkins scored the first basket of the game. However, when the Huskies regained possession, they would go on an 8-0 run to quickly gain a lead and force the Bobcats to call an early timeout. Out of the timeout, Jones sank a layup assisted by Baxter. Back-to-back three-point jumpers from Tabeling and Baxter helped close the score gap against the Huskies to two points. Both teams traded baskets to stay within two points, with the Huskies holding the lead for the remaining three minutes of the quarter.
 
The Huskies opened the second quarter by scoring off a turnover, but Tabeling responded with a three-point jumper for the Bobcats to not fall too far behind. Shots behind the arc from Baxter and Tabeling set the Bobcats ahead by four and earned their first lead since the first quarter. Ohio played quickly on offense, sinking five shots in a row to stay ahead of Northern Illinois. Going into the first media timeout of the quarter, Ohio had a four-point lead. Out of the timeout Watkins stole the ball to drive in for a layup, but drew a foul and earned a three-point play. The Bobcats kept their momentum on defense until the end of the quarter, leading at the half 45-39.
 
Ohio began the second half with possession and Baxter had a driving layup. Watkins would not be far behind with a basket behind the arc to further Ohio's lead to 11. The ball moved quickly up and down the court, but the Huskies made come back making five out of the last seven baskets to get behind the Bobcats by three points. Both teams traded baskets, but the Huskies sank an additional shot to tie the score 56-56 with three minutes remaining in the quarter. Northern Illinois had a layup on a fast break to ahead by two, but both teams played aggressively on defense to keep each other off the board for two minutes of play. With two seconds on the shot clock, Watkins drove in a layup to tie 58-58 going into the fourth quarter.
 
Northern Illinois began the final ten minutes of play sinking a basket, but junior forward Cassidy Lafler (Dublin, Ohio) responded the very next play with a driving layup to keep the score tied. Ohio gained a four-point lead after Tabeling and freshman guard Gigi Bower (Powell, Ohio) both went 2-for-2 at the free throw line. Tabeling kept the offensive momentum for Ohio by snagging a steal and scoring a driving basket under the rim. Both teams traded baskets once again, keeping the score within one point. Going into the final media timeout of the game, Ohio led 70-69. Ohio pressed on defense out of the timeout to keep Northern Illinois off the board, forcing them to call another timeout. With 12 seconds on the clock, Tabeling drew a foul and went 2-for-2 at the stripe to keep Ohio ahead, but Northern Illinois would call another timeout. With four seconds left on the clock, Ohio used its final timeout to keep possession of the ball. Out of the timeout, Tabeling would draw a foul and go 2-for-2 at the stripe, securing the 74-70 win over Northern Illinois.
 
THE WATKINS WAY
Senior Kennedi Watkins has a been an important presence on the court for Ohio this season. Through 20 games, Watkins is averaging 15.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. The senior is currently shooting 44.4 percent from the field and 29.1 percent from the arc. This season, Watkins has recorded seven 20-point games and has led the team in scoring 10 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 319 points. The senior reached the 1,000 career points milestone at Buffalo (1/22).
 
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 749 minutes played. The sophomore currently ranks first on the team for rebounds, assists and steals. Tabeling also ranks second on the team for points. Tabeling tallied a new career-high 28 points in the team's first conference win of the season at Northern Illinois (1/4). The sophomore recorded her first career double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds versus Eastern Michigan (1/25).
 
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 24 games this season, averaging 25.5 minutes per game. Dennis recorded her 100th career game at Ohio at Western Michigan (1/8).
The senior has recorded eight double-figure point games so far this season and has only tallied 13 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 (319), Bailey Tabeling (292), Kate Dennis (157)
Rebounds: Bailey Tabeling (110), Kennedi Watkins (91), Asiah Baxter (87)
Assists: Bailey Tabeling (57), Aliah McWhorter (43), Asiah Baxter (28)
Blocks: Kate Dennis (12), Kennedi Watkins (9), Aliah McWhorter (7)
Steals: Bailey Tabeling (50), Kennedi Watkins (31), Anyssa Jones (24)
Minutes Played: Bailey Tabeling (749), Kate Dennis (613), Kennedi Watkins (580)
 
MAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STATISTICAL LEADERS (2/20)
Team Rankings (Top 5):
3PT FG's Made Per Game - 3rd (7.4)
Steals - 5th (205)
Steals Per Game - 5th (8.54)
 
Individual Rankings (Top 10):
Points Per Game - Kennedi Watkins, 7th (15.2)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game - Bailey Tabeling, 10th (4.3)
3PT FG's Made Per Game - Bailey Tabeling, 5th (2.2)
Steals - Bailey Tabeling, 7th (50)
Steals Per Game - Bailey Tabeling, 8th (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), 3rd (14)
Team 3PT FG Attempts: Ohio at Saint Louis (12/15), 1st (38)
Individual FG Attempts:
Bailey Tabeling at NIU (1/4), 2nd (23)     
Individual 3PT FG Attempts:
Bailey Tabeling at NIU (1/4), 1st (16)
 
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
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 at Bowling Green on Wednesday, Feb. 26.  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
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