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Ohio guard Gabby Burris driving to the hoop. | Yukai Peng WOUB |

Ohio Women’s Basketball: Bobcats bounce back against Ball State

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MUNCIE, INDIANA – For the first time this season, Ohio was tasked with bouncing back after a Wednesday loss to Central Michigan.

On Saturday afternoon, Ohio (13-1, 2-1 MAC) bounced back in a big way with a 90-75 road win against Ball State (6-9, 1-2 MAC) – the Bobcats’ sixth-straight win over the Cardinals.

Bobcats’ head coach Bob Boldon was disappointed with the team’s poor shot selection on Wednesday night.  The Bobcats shot the ball better on Saturday as they shot 51 percent from the floor, including 15-of-35 from three-point range.

Erica Johnson was the leading scorer for Ohio with a career-high 24 points and nine assists.  CeCe Hooks scored 15 points and Amani Burke added 14 points and a team-leading six rebounds.

Ohio trailed the Cardinals for a majority of the first quarter, but took the 18-15 lead with 1:44 remaining on a Johnson three pointer.  The Bobcats held the 22-20 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Cardinals tied the game at 25 within two minutes of the second quarter, but that was the last time the game was tied – a Kaylee Bambule three-pointer gave the Bobcats a 28-25 lead and sparked a 14-0 scoring run.  However, Ball State finished the first half on a 10-1 scoring run.  Ohio had the 40-35 lead at the half.

The Bobcats took control of the game in the third quarter as they outscored Ball State 22-10.  Their defense held the Cardinals to 29 percent from the field, and 0-of-7 from beyond the arc.  In contrast, Ohio shot 54 percent from the field in the third quarter.  The Bobcats essentially put the game out of reach and had a commanding 62-45 lead after three quarters.

Even though the Bobcats were outscored by Ball State in the fourth quarter 30-28, Johnson scored the team’s final points with 20 seconds remaining – setting a new career-high in points.

The Bobcats return home for back-to-back conference games.  They will host Kent State on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.  Ohio welcomes Eastern Michigan to the Convocation Center on Saturday for a 1 p.m. tip-off.