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Ohio Women's Basketball guard Bailey Tabeling dribbling the ball in the WNIT first round against UMBC.
Ohio Women’s Basketball guard Bailey Tabeling dribbling the ball in the WNIT first round against UMBC. [Reece Merkel | WOUB Public Media]

UMBC takes down Ohio Women’s Basketball in the first round of the WNIT after a thrilling comeback 

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Coming off a disappointing game against rival Miami in the MAC Tournament, the Ohio Bobcats (18-14) returned home to the Convo to compete in the first round of the WNIT Tournament. It marked Ohio’s first appearance in the tournament since the 2021-2022 season, as they played host to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers (17-14). 

UMBC fought off a big deficit to upset Ohio and moved on with a 62-58 overtime win.

In the first quarter, Bailey Tabeling controled the court, putting up more than half her team’s point total with seven. With the Bobcats up 1-0, an Elli Garnett foul would allow the Retrievers to take their first and only lead of the half, 2-1. However, that lead would be short lived as Tabeling would drain her first three of the night, putting Ohio back at the top. Bobcats’ baskets from Antonicia Moultrie and Danni Skully would further the Ohio lead, and another three from Tabeling would seal the quarter 12-8. 

Ohio Women's Basketball guard Asiah Baxter attempting a corner three against UMBC.
Ohio Women’s Basketball guard Asiah Baxter attempting a corner three against UMBC. [Reece Merkel | WOUB Public Media]
In the second it would be all about the Bobcats as they would start the quarter with a 10-point run. A two-pointer from Monica Williams would begin the campaign, followed by an Ellie Garnett bucket and a Tabeling three from behind the arc to help the cause. However, it would be freshman ReRe Jennings that would turn up the heat for Ohio, draining back to back threes to give the Bobcats a 19-point lead. UMBC struggled offensively until late in the quarter, as a five-point scoring run would put the Retrievers back in the game. A corner three from Gabby Scott would leave the Retriever’s trailing 29-16 heading into the locker room. 

After halftime, however, the Retrievers came back to the court with a new-found intensity, going on a nine-point scoring run to kick off the quarter. UMBC’s Jade Tillman would find her footing, draining a mid-range jumper, her first field goal of the night. From there, Tillman and the rest of Retrievers would close the gap through free throws, heading into the fourth trailing by just four points. 

The fourth quarter would change the tides for the Retrievers. Although back in a 10 point deficit early in the quarter, big threes from Carmen Yánez and Gabby Scott would tie the game at 46. Soon thereafter, a Tillman bucket would allow UMBC to take their first lead since the beginning of the game, but the Bobcats would tie the score at 50 to send the game into overtime. 

In OT, UMBC would pull ahead, putting up 12 points in the period compared to OU’s eight. Unfortunately for the Bobcat’s, the Retrievers would take the win back to Maryland 62-58. 

Retrievers head coach Candice Hill shared why her team was so successful in this game and what will help them as they look to continue on in the tournament. 

“I told our team that this time of year, it’s honestly about who wants to play. I feel like if you really want to play it, you really want to be here, those are the teams that win… you got to be hungry,” she said.

UMBC will travel to Huntington to take on the Marshall Thundering Herd on Monday night.