Sports
Hooks makes history to become the all-time leading scorer in MAC basketball history
By: Darayus Sethna
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — It was a sunny, frigid afternoon in Athens on Saturday; a typical January day in Southeast Ohio. However, there was nothing typical about the events that took place at the Convocation Center.
The Bobcats hosted the Bowling Green Falcons Saturday after returning home from a two-game road trip at Central Michigan and Miami of Ohio. Before the tip-off, fans were made aware that senior guard Cece Hooks was only 19 points away from becoming the all-time leading scorer in the history of MAC basketball.
Hooks is no stranger to making history, though. Last weekend, she dropped 30 points in a 75-65 victory on the road against Central Michigan. With her 30 points, Hooks became the all-time leading scorer in Ohio women’s basketball history.
Ohio got off to a tremendous start on the offensive end of the floor Saturday, scoring the first eight points of the game. Although the limelight was rightfully centered on Cece Hooks, the Bobcats displayed the core values of a true team performance. Kaylee Bambule contributed with 12 points in 32 minutes while Gabby Burris finished with a double-double—21 points and 12 rebounds. Redshirt junior guard Erica Johnson also contributed to Ohio’s efforts by scoring 13 points and hauling in 6 rebounds.
With about 1:40 left in the third quarter, the moment fans at The Convo had finally been waiting for had arrived.
Cece Hooks scored a basket that put the Bobcats ahead 66-47. But there was much more meaning to that basket than just the two points. Hooks had finally become the leading scorer in all of MAC basketball history. It was something she herself could not even fathom.
“The way I was playing in the first half, I didn’t even think I was going to get there,” Hooks said. “I didn’t know I even had 19 [points] when it happened”.
Bobcats head coach Bob Boldon further discussed how Hooks’s presence off the court is just as valuable as her awe-inspiring play on it.
“When Cece broke the record today, you saw genuine joy from her teammates”, Boldon said. “You’re not going to find a person on our team that doesn’t like Cece. And it’s not because she is good at basketball. It is because she is a good person and that’s sincere.”
The game itself saw the Bobcats take an early lead and never look back. In the third quarter, they extended their lead to 22 points, which would be their largest of the game. They eventually secured an 85-70 win in front of their already ecstatic home crowd. Cece Hooks finished with a game high 27 points and seve assists.
Saturday will go down as one of the most iconic days in the history of MAC basketball— and it happened right here in Athens. This is a story that will no doubt be passed down through generations of Bobcats fans to come.
With the victory, Ohio gained its ninth win of the year and improved their record to 3-2 in conference play. The team is currently fifth in the MAC standings with a 9-5 overall record and will host the Buffalo Bulls on Monday night at the Convo. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.