ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — As the calendar moves into February, it means March is one month closer. The Ohio Bobcats played host to Ball State Wednesday night in a game that had huge MAC implications attached to it. The Bobcats dug themselves in a hole that they were unable to dig themselves out of and fund themselves on the losing side of an 84-74 ballgame.
Ohio University women’s basketball coach Bob Boldon, right, discusses a call with a referee during their game against Ball State University, in Athens, Ohio, on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. Ball State went on to win 84-74. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]Coming into this matchup, Ball State and Ohio found themselves in the middle of the pack in the MAC standings. The Bobcats held a narrow lead over the Cardinals in the MAC standings for fifth place with the margin between sixth and second in the standings being one game. The stakes were high in this one with the winner likely moving closer to a spot in the top four while the loser would find themselves going the wrong direction in the standings.
Ohio didn’t start off the game on the right note. Ball State opened up with a 22-15 lead after the first quarter. Ball State freshman Ally Becki had 12 of Ball State’s 22 points in the opening frame. It ended up being a career night for Becki as she finished with a career-high 27 points on 7-of-13 shooting from deep and dished out eight assists.
“We made no adjustments in the second half,” head coach Bob Boldon said. “She just missed more shots in the second half then she did in the first half. She didn’t take as many shots. She would’ve had like 48 (points).”
Ohio tried to claw back into the game as it went on, but anytime Ohio would score, Ball State pushed the tempo and answered right back in transition.
“They were playing with a very fast tempo. They were getting up and down the floor quickly and we weren’t getting back in transition, which killed us on the defensive end and allowed them to shoot the three’s,” Cece Hooks said. “We got ourselves in a slump and it was hard for us to fight out of it. We have to keep moving forward to get better.”
Cece Hooks led the Bobcats offensively on Wednesday night with a team-high 33 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Hooks had to pick her game up offensively because Ohio was without guard Kaylee Bambule due to COVID-19 protocols.
Ohio University’s Cece Hooks, 1, jumps past the Ball State University defense while attempting a jump shot, in Athens, Ohio, on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. Ball State University went on to win 84-74. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Madi Mace, number 3, walks enters the court prior to Ohio University Women’s Basketball game against Ball State University, in Athens, Ohio, on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Madi Mace, number 3, left, dodges around the Ball State University defense in their game against the Ohio University Bobcats, in Athens, Ohio, on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Ohio University women’s basketball teammate Jasmine Hale cheers her team on from the bench after the Bobcat’s scored while playing against the Ball State University Cardinals, in Athens, Ohio. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Ohio University women’s basketball coach Bob Boldon, right, discusses a call with a referee during their game against Ball State University, in Athens, Ohio, on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Ohio University’s Cece Hooks, 1, attempts a shot around Ball State University defense in Athens, Ohio, on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Ball State University women’s basketball team and staff react to their team scoring against the Ohio University Bobcats, in Athens, Ohio, on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Ohio University’s Cece Hooks, 1, attempts a shot around Ball State University defense in Athens, Ohio, on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Ohio University cheerleaders run across the court with banners spelling out OHIO at half-time during Ohio University’s game against the Ball State University Cardinals. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Ohio University women’s basketball teammate Jasmine Hale rests her head on her hands after responding to action on the court during the Bobcat’s game against Ball State University, in Athens. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Ohio University’s Cece Hooks, center, collides with Ball State University’s Ally Becki, 0, while playing basketball in Athens. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Ohio University’s Gabby Burris, left, attempts a shot during the Bobcat’s game against the Ball State University Cardinals, in Athens. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Ohio University’s Yaya Felder, left, shoots over the head of the Ball State defense in their basketball game in Athens. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Cece Hooks, number 1, leaps into the air attempting a shot in Ohio women’s basketball's game against Ball State, in Athens on Feb. 2, 2022. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Ohio University’s Gabby Burris, number 41, attempts a shot while Ball State University’s Marie Kiefer, 14, and Estel Puiggros, 22, attempt to block her. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Erica Johnson, right, 4, drives to the net around Ball State University defense Thelma Dis Agustdottir in their game with the Ohio University Bobcats. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Kelly Evans, bottom right, clarinetist with the Ohio University Marching 110, waves fingers in the air while the Bobcats attempt free throws in their game against Ball State University. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Cece Hooks, left, tries to pass around Ball State’s Ally Becki in their basketball game against the Ohio Bobcats. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Yaya Felder, the freshman guard, took Bambule’s spot in the lineup. Felder played tough and made a huge impact on the defensive end, finishing with a team-high five steals on the night. She also added seven points and seven rebounds, making the most of her role as a starter.
Erica Johnson, Gabby Burris, and Madi Mace rounded out the starting five for the Bobcats. Ball State limited those three for much of the night. Johnson finished with 10 points and was held to 4-of-17 shooting, including 0-of-8 from deep.
Burris was held in check as well, finishing with nine points on 4-of-11 shooting, while Mace finished with 13 points with most of them coming in the second half. Overall, Ohio couldn’t find much consistent scoring from anyone other than Cece Hooks, which hurt them.
Poor transition defense from Ohio gave Ball State plenty of open looks that they cashed in on. Aside from Becki’s 27 points, Thelma Dis Agustsdottir finished with 16 points and Sydney Freeman finished with 19 points. The Bobcats didn’t play up to their standards defensively throughout the game and when combined with a slow offensive start, the Bobcats weren’t cooking with a recipe for success.
“I thought we looked slow most of the game. I actually think we looked better in the fourth quarter than most of the game, which is ironic and goes against conventional wisdom,” Boldon said. “Our offense picked up in the second half and unfortunately, our defense didn’t.”
With the loss, the Bobcats fall to 11-7 overall. They’re currently sliding in the wrong direction in the MAC standings with a record of 5-4. That ties them with Bowling Green for sixth in the standings as of Wednesday night. Cece Hooks and company will need to string together a few wins before the MAC tournament starting with a road matchup against Northern Illinois on Saturday.
![Ohio University women’s basketball coach Bob Boldon, right, discusses a call with a referee during their game against Ball State University, in Athens, Ohio, on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. Ball State University went on to win 84-76. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/220202_WBB_OUvsBSU_1738-e1643867080325.jpg)