Ohio (3-4) traveled to play Cleveland State (3-4) at the Wolstein Center. The Vikings won the contest with a final score of 66-56.
The Bobcats knew they were going to face a challenge. The Vikings are the defending the Horizon League champions, earning the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament last season.
Ohio struggled from inside the arc in the first half. The Bobcats sank 11 of 38 shots for a 28.9 shooting percentage.
However, despite those troubles, the Bobcats built a 27-21 lead going into intermission.
Sophomore guard Erin Bailes contributed with a productive nine-minute span of play.
She scored eight points during her time on the court in the first half but she was controlled by the Viking defense in the second half.
“She did well in the first half but they came out and made adjustments and didn’t allow her to open shots," coach Semeka Randall said. “Erin has to do a better job of being a screener and opening up for the basketball. Offensively we need to get in a better groove.”
Bailes finished with 13 points.
The Bobcats forced 18 Viking miscues in the first half but the Bobcats could only score 16 points off them.
“We forced a lot of turnovers but we weren’t able to convert those opportunities and they took away our transition offense in the second half,” Randall said. “We had to struggle and will our way in (the paint) and shot 53 percent from the free throw line."
Ohio’s offense sputtered in the second half. The Bobcats could not score for nearly five minutes.
At the 9:27 mark in the second, Ohio broke through with a layup by Shavon Robinson but it was too late.
The Vikings took advantage of the Bobcats' scoring drought and went ahead by three points at 37-34.
The teams kept it close till just under the two-minute mark. The Bobcats were forced to foul and the Vikings scored the final 11 points on free throws to close out the game.
QUICK STATS
Erin Bailes 13 points, 50% from the field
Shavon Robinson 10 points
