YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Ohio women's basketball team (16-12, 10-7 MAC) defeated Eastern Michigan (12-16, 5-12 MAC) 62-54 on Wednesday, March 4.
 
Ohio shot 32.8 percent from the field, 23.7 percent from the arc and 61.1 percent from the line. The Bobcats finished with 45 rebounds, 10 assists, 13 steals and six blocks.
 
Junior Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.), redshirt sophomore Bella Ranallo (Lake Forest, Ill.) and sophomore Gigi Bower (Powell, Ohio) led Ohio in scoring with 10 points each. Graduate student Elli Garnett (Lakewood, Colo.) led the team in rebounding with 10 boards in addition to a team-high three blocks. Junior Asiah Baxter (Indianapolis, Ind.) and graduate student Aliah McWhorter (Cincinnati, Ohio) led the team in assists with two each. Baxter, Ranallo and Tabeling all finished with a team-high three steals each.
 
Ohio got off to a slow start and didn't score until a three pointer by Bower with 7:10 left in the first quarter. Eastern Michigan went up 9-5 with just under five minute to play. The Bobcats took an 11-9 lead off another three pointer by Bower. Ohio went on an 8-0 scoring run for 1:41, taking a 15-9 lead with 2:09 to go. At the end of the first, Ohio led Eastern Michigan 17-11.
 
Eastern Michigan cut Ohio's lead to 17-15 with back-to-back baskets in the beginning of the second quarter. The Eagles made it a one point game, 19-18, with 5:58 left on the clock. Eastern Michigan closed in on Ohio's lead while the Bobcats struggled to perform on offense. The Bobcats experienced a scoring drought for over two minutes, allowing the Eagles to tie the game at 25-25. Ohio only led Eastern Michigan 27-25 heading into the locker room.
 
Tabeling got the scoring started for Ohio in the third quarter. Tabeling drained a three pointer to put the Bobcats up 30-27 with 9:01 left on the clock. With 6:21 to play, Ohio extended its lead to 35-29. Eastern Michigan came close several times, but solid rebounding and big defensive plays kept the lead with the Bobcats. A layup by redshirt sophomore Monica Williams (Indianapolis, Ind.) gave Ohio a 42-35 lead with 2:39 to go. At the end of the third, the Bobcats led the Eagles 45-39.
 
Eastern Michigan looked to make a comeback in the fourth quarter but came up short. The Bobcats went on to defeat the Eagles, 62-54.
 
The Bobcats will be back in action when they host Miami (OH) on Saturday, March 7 in the Convocation Center. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPNU. Ohio will also honor its three members of its senior class following the game on Saturday.
 
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