Ohio welcomed the Mid-American Conference favorite Central Michigan to the Convo on Saturday for its first game of 2021. The Bobcats lost both of their games to the Chippewas last season by a combined total of four points.
The matchup held its precedent as a close game, and the Chippewas won the game 90-87.
Here are The Post’s instant reactions to Ohio’s 90-87 loss to Central Michigan:
Slow Start
The Bobcats struggled coming out of the locker room in both halves. Central Michigan jumped out to an early 14-5 lead in the first quarter and brought a seven-point lead into the second. Ohio shot just two-for-13 from beyond the arc in the first quarter.
The Bobcats started with a lead in the second half after dominating the second quarter but struggled to keep pace after halftime.
Ohio struggled to produce points after the Chippewas put a full-court press on leading scorer Erica Johnson. The lack of points gave Central a 14-3 run heading into the final quarter.
Poor shooting
The Bobcats struggled mightily from beyond the arc, shooting a total of 9-of-37 from 3-point range. The Bobcats missed each of their first nine 3-pointers and weren’t able to find a rhythm in the second half.
Cece Hooks missed each of her seven 3-point attempts, and Gabby Burris and Caitlyn Kroll missed five each as well.
Central Michigan fared much better from beyond the arc. It went 15-for-35 from beyond the 3-point line.
Close Finish
The last two matchups between the Bobcats and the Chippewas ended in extremely close and wild finishes. The combined margin of victory for Central Michigan in those games was four points.
Ohio had multiple opportunities to close the game in the fourth quarter. The first came off a missed Central Michigan free throw with less than 30 seconds left in the game. The Chippewas got an offensive rebound which forced Ohio into fouling again.
Gabby Burris shot two free throws with seven seconds left and a two-point deficit, but she missed the first. After she made the second shot, there was nobody back for Ohio to guard the inbound pass as Kelly went down the court with the ball to make the last shot.
The two teams meet again in two weeks for what should be another close game on Jan. 16.
