Ohio (0-1 overall) opened up its season with a hard-fought loss against Georgia Southern (1-0 overall) by a score of 82-70 in the Convo on Monday.
The non-conference matchup was a result of the MAC-SBC challenge, a deal set up so that both the men's and women's basketball teams of the Mid-American Conference and Sun Belt Conference would open their seasons against each other. Last season Ohio lost on the road to Appalachian State, proving that the challenge sets up teams with difficult first matchups, something Ohio coach Bob Boldon enjoys.
“I think this MAC-Sun Belt challenge thing came to fruition to create some challenging games,” Boldon said. “You're certainly not easing your way into the season. We’re challenged early, and I think that's a good thing.”
The Bobcats were certainly challenged on Monday night, but it didn’t look like that at the start. Ohio scored 21 first-quarter points on 47% shooting from the field and 50% from deep. The ball movement was excellent to start the game as Ohio capitalized on the good looks.
“(They) set the tempo with the ball movement,” Boldon said. “I thought our player movement and ball movement was really good… it’s an incredibly unselfish group.”
One surprise before the game tipped off was the exclusion of star guard Jaya McClure from the starting lineup, sitting the game with an apparent injury.
In the absence of McClure, graduate student Kennedi Watkins stepped up big, scoring 11 of her career-high 26 points in the first quarter on 4-of-4 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 from three. She worked hard on her three-point shot this offseason, and the improvement was clear against Georgia Southern.
“That's something I've definitely been working on in the offseason since the summer. Just getting a lot of reps so that in-game, the three can just come easily,” Watkins said. “I just thank my teammates for finding me on those plays when I'm able to knock down the three.”
Ohio’s hot start would not last for long; however, as the shots weren't falling in the second quarter, resulting in just 11 total points in the second, shooting 1-of-9 from three.
Eight turnovers from Ohio in the second also didn’t help what was already a tough offensive performance in the second quarter.
Georgia Southern took advantage of Ohio’s cold shooting and asserted itself in the second, scoring 20 points and taking the lead, 38-32, going into halftime.
“You have to do a better job of taking care of the ball, boxing out and finishing possessions,” Boldon said. “So (we’re) just trying to tighten up all of those things and get a little better before we play again.”
The third quarter was a refreshing 10 minutes of basketball for Ohio. The team came out of the second still a bit sluggish and cold shooting the ball but finished the quarter strong, eating into the Georgia Southern lead, bringing it down to 57-54.
Ohio finished the quarter shooting 61.5% from the field, going 4-of-5 from three. Four players made a three in the third, another testament to the impressive Ohio ball movement.
“Going into halftime, though, we knew we had to pick it up,” sophomore guard Bailey Tabeling said. “The first five minutes of the third quarter were kind of iffy. I think the last five we really picked it up.”
Entering the last frame of play, the energy in the Convo was high after a solid third quarter saw Ohio get back to striking distance of the Georgia Southern lead, and the energy continued after a couple of nice shots from Kate Dennis and Anyssa Jones.
Unfortunately for Ohio, Georgia Southern would answer seemingly every shot Ohio made with a shot of its own, holding on to a tight lead.
The Eagles would eventually pull away in the fourth after Ohio ended the game with a 2-minute, 40-second scoring drought and a 7-0 Eagles run over the final 2 minutes and 17 seconds of the game.
Despite a worrying difference in the turnover and offensive rebound battle, Ohio went step for step with Georgia Southern for most of the game. The team will look to rebound Sunday at 1 p.m. against Bellarmine.
