Ahead four points with 30 seconds to play, it appeared Ohio would win its first Mid-American Conference game of the season Sunday against Kent State.
However, the Golden Flashes (3-18, 1-7 Mid-American Conference) scored six unanswered points in the final 25 seconds to clinch their first conference win, while the Bobcats (5-15, 0-8) remain winless in MAC play.
“It was a tough, tough, tough loss even though I thought we had a great energy (and) effort,” Ohio coach Semeka Randall said. “Kent State is a scrappy team and fought back after getting down by 16 points, while we started to panic and take bad, quick shots.”
The Bobcats held a 16-point lead with 13:54 remaining, but Kent State pulled together a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to just six points — the largest lead Ohio held in the remainder of the game.
Despite Kent State having momentum for the majority of the second half, Ohio senior guard Ashley Fowler and freshman Kiyanna Black had helped the Bobcats to a four-point lead with a less than a minute to play in the game.
Senior center Leslie Schaefer missed a layup for the Golden Flashes with 31 seconds on the clock, but Kent State was able to grab the offensive rebound and dish freshman guard Rachel Mendelsohn for a three-pointer.
Still leading by one point, the Bobcats were ready to inbound the ball, but senior forward Tina Fisher turned over the inbound pass, which led to a go-ahead Kent State basket with 22 seconds on the clock.
Down one, Ohio successfully inbounded the ball to Black, who advanced the ball down the court and attempted a shot from beyond the free throw line.
Black’s shot bounced off the rim and was rebounded by Kent State with five seconds to play.
“It was a precious shot, but (Kiyanna) has made that shot for us before and I would still give the ball to her again,” Randall said. “I think we felt and believed we would win.”
Fowler then fouled senior guard Tamzin Barroilhet, who made one of two free throws. Down two points with two seconds on the clock, Ohio inbounded the ball to junior guard Erin Bailes, who missed what would be a game-winning three from half court as time expired.
Black finished as Ohio’s leading scorer with 14 points, while fellow freshman forward Lexie Baldwin added 10 points.
Ohio forced 24 turnovers, but committed 20 itself, leading to 24 points for the Golden Flashes.
The Bobcats also held a nine-point lead at halftime, which was their first lead since beginning MAC play, but did not carry over enough momentum into the second half.
“We feel bad, but we need to regroup for Northern Illinois, because this loss really hurts a lot,” Randall said. “The energy was there, but down the stretch the management wasn’t there. It starts with me first and we need to get back and get better.”
With Kent State’s victory, Ohio and Northern Illinois are now the only teams yet to win a game in conference play. The two will face-off Wednesday at The Convo.
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