Sports
Tabeling’s 26 points not enough, Ohio Women’s Basketball losing streak extends to three
By: Evan Johnson
Posted on:
ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Ohio Women’s Basketball drops their third conference game in a row, despite a strong offensive performance from sophomore Bailey Tabeling. Bowling Green never trailed in the game, en route to a 74-53 victory.
Going into the game both teams were 1-3 in MAC play. They were also looking to stop a two-game losing skid.
Bowling Green got out to a hot start going perfect on their first five attempts to give them a 14-5 lead. Senior Lexi Fleming took control of the offense as the Falcons cruised to 24 points in the first quarter.
Ohio’s offense shot just 3-11 from the field in the opening period. Kate Dennis ended the quarter with a three-pointer at the buzzer to shorten the deficit to 14 and give the Bobcats some momentum.
In the second quarter the Ohio defense, which they have relied on recently to keep them in games, was very aggressive. It forced five turnovers in just the first four minutes of the second quarter.
Sophomore Bailey Tabeling took advantage of her team’s defense with 11 early points to bring the Bobcats within seven.
“Just working as a team, seems to work best for us especially when we are trying to get a point,” said Tabeling on her offensive success.
The Falcons got back to work, going a run to end the half and regain a double-digit lead of 36-26.
In the second half, it was more of the same for both teams. Ohio could not produce points other than Tabeling who dropped her team’s only eight points in the first five minutes of the third quarter.
“I think she has done a really nice of trying to take the lead and get us into stuff. She has handled not just the ability to take the ball up the floor, but a leader on the court and in the huddle.” head coach Bob Bolden said about Tabeling’s transition to point guard.
Ohio’s offense went cold in the final quarter, only scoring 11 points. Tabeling ended as the game’s leading scorer with 26 total points. Despite the impressive offensive outing, the Bobcats never got the needed run.
“Our effort, was not as high as we want it to be, so I think we are going to go give it our all in practice,” said Bailey Tabeling on the team’s takeaways from the game.
Fleming led the Falcons in points with 19 and ended just one shy of 1,000 career points. It wasn’t just Fleming that helped the Bowling Green offense, as four players finished with double-digit points.
Bowling Green will return to the Stroh Center on Saturday to face Northern Illinois. Ohio will hit the road again on Saturday when it travels to Toledo to face the Rockets.