Ohio (6-21, 4-12 Mid-American Conference) took on rival Miami (18-9, 10-6 MAC) Saturday in the Battle of the Bricks matchup. Ohio was looking to even the season series against their rival, but fell just short in a 53-62 loss.
Miami was the first on the board after a 3-pointer and a second-chance layup, taking the early lead 5-2. Both teams started well defensively, contesting shots and forcing turnovers to slow down the pace. Ohio struggled to find any offensive rhythm, shooting 25 percent from the field.
However, the Bobcats went six of six from the free throw line, and the quarter would end with the score tied, 14-14. Despite its inefficient offense, Ohio’s defense forced eight Miami turnovers in the first quarter, something the team emphasized in practice early in the week.
“Over the week of practice, we’ve really worked on making sure we’re in gaps, making it hard for them to kind of get into the paint, because that’s where they wanted to go,” sophomore Bailey Tabeling said.
Both teams exchanged baskets to start the second quarter, but neither was able to get anything going offensively. With about two minutes left, the Bobcats went on a 6-0 run to take the lead 24-22, and an and-one by sophomore Bailey Tabeling put the Bobcats up 27-25 to end the half.
The second half began with Ohio struggling to get anything going offensively, allowing Miami to jump back into a 33-29 lead. However, two made free throws from sophomore Asiah Baxter and an and-one by junior Cassidy Lafler shifted the game back in the Bobcats' favor. Both teams exchanged threes before Miami went on a 6-0 run to end the quarter, making the score 40-46 heading into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter began slowly again for both teams, but Miami began to pull away with the lead. The Bobcats got back within 2 points two different times, once with a 3-pointer from senior Kate Dennis and once with a layup by graduate student Aliah McWhorter. Despite their efforts, the Bobcats were not able to shift momentum back in their favor and came up short of the win.
The Bobcats were paced by Tabeling and freshman Danni Scully in points, with 17 and 10 respectively. Scully provided a much needed offensive spark in the first half, scoring seven of her 10 points in the first quarter, along with eight rebounds.
“I’m very proud that she had this moment,” Ohio coach Bob Boldon said of Scully’s performance. “I’m happy that after everything she’d been through, that she got to have a night like tonight.”
Ohio will be back in action on Wednesday against Western Michigan at the Convo.
