ATHENS, Ohio – In its second matchup of the 2025-26 MAC-SBC Challenge, the Ohio women's basketball team (13-9, 7-4 MAC) fell 84-76 in a close battle with Old Dominion (15-10, 6-6 SBC) on Saturday, Feb. 7 in the Convocation Center.
 
Ohio shot 39.1 percent from the field, 50.0 percent from the arc and 60.7 percent from the line. The Bobcats finished with 41 rebounds, 14 assists, 10 steals and four blocks.
 
Redshirt sophomore Bella Ranallo (Lake Forest, Ill.) led the team in scoring with 15 points; shooting 4-for-10 from the field, 2-for-2 from the arc and 5-for-8 from the line.
 
Graduate student Aliah McWhorter (Cincinnati, Ohio) scored 12 points; shooting 5-for-9 from the field, 1-for-1 from the arc and 1-for-2 from the line. McWhorter also recorded two rebounds, two assists and one steal.
 
Rounding out Ohio's top scorers was junior Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.) with 11 points. Tabeling tallied a team-high four assists and two blocks in addition to five rebounds and two steals.
 
Graduate student Elli Garnett (Lakewood, Colo.) led the team in rebounding with a total of seven boards. Junior Asiah Baxter (Indianapolis, Ind.) finished with a team-high three steals.
 
Despite Ohio scoring first, Old Dominion got off to a good start and controlled most of the first quarter. After a three pointer by Garnett, the teams were tied at 8-8 with 7:06 left on the clock. The Monarchs went on a scoring run shortly after and took a 22-14 lead with 2:57 to go. The Bobcats trailed the Monarchs 24-19 at the end of the first quarter.
 
Ohio quickly tied the game at 24-24 with over eight minutes to play in the second quarter. The teams went back-and-forth trading points, but the Bobcats could not catch the Monarchs. After two made free throws by junior Antonicia Moultrie (Nassau, Bahamas), Ohio trailed Old Dominion 34-31 with 4:37 left on the clock. The Bobcats continued to chase the Monarchs, coming within two points of their lead. Despite outscoring ODU 21-20, the Bobcats trailed the Monarchs 44-40 at the half.
 
Ohio tied the game again at 44-44 with 8:07 left in the third quarter. Despite outscoring them 19-17 and outrebounding them 15-12, the Bobcats continued to struggle to catch the Monarchs. With 4:37 to go in the quarter, Ohio only trailed ODU 49-48. With just over a minute to go in the quarter, McWhorter drained a three pointer and cut ODU's lead to 59-57. Heading into the final quarter, the Bobcats trailed the Monarchs 61-59.
 
Ohio had a strong start to the fourth quarter, resulting in the Bobcats taking a 70-68 lead over the Monarchs with 6:35 left to play. ODU's strength on offense and missed scoring opportunities by Ohio allowed the Monarchs to retake a 80-76 lead over the Bobcats with 2:32 left on the clock. Despite their efforts, Ohio ultimately fell 84-76 to Old Dominion.
 
The Bobcats will be back in action at Toledo on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
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