Ohio lost 74-55 to snap its winningest season in program history
TEMPE, Ariz. – Bob Boldon held his hands to his face and gasped.
In a season where everything went right, things started to go wrong.
It began as usual, as Ohio got off to an 8-6 lead just under minutes into the contest. Less than five minutes later, the Bobcats were looking up at a scoreboard indicating a 13-0 Arizona State run.
When Ohio shots started to rim out, Arizona State shots snuck in. Despite a four-minute field goal drought for the Sun Devils, they still managed to convert nine free throws.
“I thought they shot the ball well,” coach Bob Boldon said. “They’re obviously a well-coached team, and very skilled, very talented, and a very good basketball team. And they showed it tonight.”
The Sun Devils attacked the basket, forcing the Bobcats to either concede layups or rack up the foul totals.
Within the first 90 seconds, Ohio’s leading scorer, Kiyanna Black, already had two fouls.
By attacking the hoop — bullying a much smaller Ohio squad — the Sun Devils slowly started to take control of a vicious defense the Bobcats have become accustomed to.
In the first half alone, four of Ohio’s five starters already had produced nine fouls.
“Part of me was wondering if that was their strategy,” said Charli Turner Thorne, Arizona State’s coach. “They were hammering us. I was concerned about someone getting hurt, to be honest.”
In short, it just wasn’t Ohio’s day.
A 2,000 mile flight with a three-hour time change wasn’t the difference. Playing at Arizona State’s home venue wasn’t the difference, either.
Arizona State’s 74-55 pummeling Saturday reiterated that the Sun Devils are the No. 9 team in the country. The game also reiterated that the Bobcats haven’t played an NCAA Tournament-worthy opponent since early December.
“I think they’re really good,” Boldon said. “They do a lot of things well. They shoot well, guard well. They have a good post presence. They’re obviously well coached.”
Sadly, the winningest team in program history walked off the floor with its heaviest defeat of the season. In two years, the Bobcats have completely reconstructed their program from its worst season in 2012-13 to a 27-win season in 2014-15.
Senior guard Mariah Byard was a part of both teams.
Following the Mid-American Conference Championship win over Eastern Michigan, Byard told the media room that the turnaround felt better than she ever dreamed it would be.
Yet when Byard walked into the postgame press conference Saturday night, it was evident those thoughts of joy and satisfaction were left in Athens, 2,000 miles away.
@charliehatch_
