Sports
Ohio Women’s Basketball strong defensive effort leads to win over Wright State
By: Reece Merkel
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — On Monday night, Ohio Women’s Basketball (3-2) hosted the Wright State Raiders (4-3). Last year, the Bobcats faced the Raiders in Dayton losing the matchup 57-68. This year, the Bobcats were able to turn the page and win this matchup, 80-66.
In the first quarter, the Bobcats started hot with a 7-2 run, but the Raiders would score nine unanswered to take the lead 11-7. That lead would not last long, as the Raiders would foul Danni Scully, making one, and Gigi Bower would make a three to tie it up at 11.
After that, the Bobcats and Raiders would go back-and-forth for the rest of the quarter. With the quarter closing, Bailey Tabeling would grab a rebound on one end and make a buzzer-beating three on the other.
Ohio would start right where they left off in the first quarter, led by Aliah McWhorter and Bailey Tabeling, attacking the paint. The Bobcats would score nine straight before sending the Raiders to the free-throw line with 6:53 remaining in the quarter.
“Honestly, it’s not to overthink,” said Aliah McWhorter. “So, it’s just like if I feel like I can beat my player, then that’s what I’m going to do.”
The Bobcats’ defense was the name of the game in the second quarter, only allowing six points. With that stellar defense, the offense was the same way, scoring 27, led by Aliah McWhorter and Bella Ranallo with seven and five points, respectively.
In the third quarter, both teams would start slow with the first score coming in just over two minutes into the quarter.
Towards the end of the third, both teams would start to get physical and put each other in the bonus.
In the final ten minutes, both teams had to pick up the slack from the third. Ohio would start the quarter with back-to-back threes from Bower and Scully.
As the fourth progressed, the physicality grew more. Wright State would send Tabeling and Scully to the charity stripe a combined four times in the final minutes.
The Bobcats would hold onto their lead to win 80-66.
“They like each other. Their togetherness… and I’m ready to coach them the rest of the way,” Ohio head coach Bob Boldon said on what he likes most about his team.
Wright State will play in the Thanksgiving Classic, starting with Florida Atlantic on November 28.
Ohio plays at Davidson on Nov. 30 at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.