ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Ohio (9-17, 6-9 MAC) welcomed Western Michigan (12-14, 7-8 MAC) into the Convo on Wednesday night and defended home court in a nail-biter, winning 67-64.
The Broncos were looking for a repeat of their 73-58 victory against the Bobcats on Jan. 17. The Broncos came into this one firing from deep, knocking down five three pointers in the opening quarter. This combined with six turnovers for the Bobcats, would put them down 19-16 at the end of quarter.
Ohio was able to get momentum in the second quarter by utilizing its offense in the paint. It exploded for 22 points, with all of its baskets but one coming at the rim. Ohio would enter the break with a 38-35 lead.
Jaya McClure goes up for the basket against Western Michigan [Walker Smith | WOUB]Things remained close in the second half. Western Michigan continued to add to the scoreboard with shots from behind the arc.
34 of the Broncos 55 shots on the night were 3-pointers.But it would be Ohio’s 3-point shooting that prevailed in the end.
With the score tied in the final seconds of the game, junior guard Kate Dennis spotted up in the corner and knocked down the go-ahead bucket for Ohio. Dennis’ fourth three of the night would be the nail in the coffin, and the exclamation point on a back and forth night of basketball.
“We were really moving the ball and playing as a team,” Dennis said. “We play really good when we play as a team, and that was really important to us tonight.”
With only three games left in the regular season, the Bobcats are looking to make a push for the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
Ohio head coach Bob Boldon spoke on the group’s defensive stand in the final minutes against a good shooting team.
“Earlier in the year that would’ve really crushed us… but we just went down and got a good shot,” Boldon said. “I think that shows a lot of maturity, and that’s something you like to see out of the team this time of the year.”
Ohio’s defense forced 11 steals on the night en route to its victory. Ohio will return to action against Central Michigan at home on March 2 to celebrate Senior Day.
