Sports
Ohio Women’s Basketball’s losing streak extends to four games
By: Bryan Kurp
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — An important piece of Ohio’s team was missing Saturday: Cece Hooks.
Hooks suffered an injury in OU’s game at Northern Illinois and was unavailable in the Bobcats’ matchup with Western Michigan. Her absence was felt as the Broncos (13-9, 7-6 MAC) ride 14 three pointers to an 80-73 win over Ohio (11-9, 5-6 MAC).
Lauren Ross had seven three pointers for Western Michigan and led all scorers with 37 points. Overall, the Broncos shot over 44 percent from the field.
There were 14 lead changes throughout the game and Ohio held a one-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Broncos sank the Bobcats in the fourth behind a solid 53 percent from the field, including five three pointers.
“We can’t guard them,” head coach Bob Boldon said. “I just hope we don’t have to play them again.”
In Hooks’ absence, Erica Johnson led Ohio in scoring with 23 points.
Freshmen Madi Mace and Yaya Felder also helped fill the void.
Mace finished with 17 points, including a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line. Felder matched two career highs with 16 points and nine rebounds.
“Those kids are that, in the future of the program in a couple years, they’ll be really good in,” Boldon said.
Gabby Burris finished the day with a double-double: scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
With the loss, Ohio falls to ninth place in the MAC standings with nine games remaining. If the regular season ended today, the Bobcats would not be going to Cleveland for the MAC Tournament as only the top eight teams qualify.
With four-straight losses, the Bobcats have a busy week ahead to try and turn things around.
They return to action Monday as they welcome in Eastern Michigan at 7 p.m. Then, on Wednesday, Ohio hosts the Toledo Rockets — the top team in the MAC.