The recipe for games against Bowling Green is simple: Lead in the first half against the highly favored Falcons before losing the upset bid in the second half.
Ohio (9-22) fell 66-57 to Bowling Green (26-4) for the third time this season during the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference Championships in Cleveland yesterday.
“I have to give Bowling Green credit,” said coach Semeka Randall. “The seniors came out and worked extremely hard. They came out and did what they were supposed to do. They were in a situation where they had to come from behind, and their players stepped up and made plays.”
The Bobcats dominated the first half of the game, limiting the usually powerful Falcon offense.
Bowling Green gained the lead early, scoring five points to start, but the Bobcats responded with a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer by Erin Bailes to tie the game.
“I am very pleased with everything that they gave,” Randall said. “There is something to be said about this team. We have had a lot of adversity. No one expected us to be here.”
The Falcons held the lead for less than a minute until the Bobcats took over the score. They didn’t look back for the rest of the half. Ohio led by as many as six during the first half, holding a 20-14 advantage of Bowling Green with eight minutes left.
Ohio went into the locker room leading 28-27, its fifth consecutive game where the team led as it headed for the locker rooms.
“We really fed off of each other,” said junior Tenishia Benson. “The older players were able to help the younger ones, and then the younger ones, feeding off the energy, were able to help the older ones.”
Bowling Green went about regaining the lead during the second half, quickly tying the game 28-28 with a Tracy Pontius free throw, but the Bobcats pulled ahead once again.
The game continued to be close throughout the beginning of the second half until the Falcons took off, leading by as many as 13 points.
Bowling Green’s 18-4 second half run gave them a lead they wouldn’t give up. The Bobcats struggled to keep up, closing the lead to as close as six at one point.
“We believed that we were going to win this basketball game,” Randall said. “We knew the importance of making sure we showed up for the second half, but we control the things that we control – having confidence in who you are and your team.”
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