Sports
Big Second Quarter Run Propels Bobcats to Victory
By: Gabe Genovesi
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Ohio was back in the Convocation Center for the first time this regular season, and they did not disappoint. The Bobcats took down Tennessee Martin 72-55 to improve to 2-0 in the 2016-17 campaign.
Quiera Lampkins, who missed the first game of the year due to illness, impressed in her first appearance game back. The senior forward, who averaged 14.8 points per game last season, tallied 16 points along with 11 rebounds and three assists.
Tennessee Martin hung with Ohio for a quarter and a half. Led by freshman guard Kendall Spray, who had 12 points in the opening 20 minutes of play, the score was tied at 23-23 with 4:05 to play in the second quarter. From there, Ohio went on a 16-0 run to end the first half and never looked back. The scoring run was helped by Amani Burke, who lead the Bobcats with 10 points heading into the locker room.
Burke, a freshman guard from Columbus, showed her potential and how impactful of a player she could be. Behind Lampkins, she was the second leading scorer for the Bobcats with 13 points on 5 of 8 shooting from the field. Lampkins and Burke guard each other in practice and Burke said that has a lot to do with her success.
“It’s definitely a challenge everyday but I feel like as long as I step up and take the challenge then she’ll definitely make me better,” she said.
Ohio shot 36 percent from the field and 25 percent from beyond the arc on Friday, but it was the free throw percentage that was a surprise to many. The Bobcats shot 100 percent from the charity stripe, going 10/10 in the second game of the season. The perfect mark from the line was something that coach Bob Bolden was very pleased with, despite saying free throw shooting has not been a concern for him.
“No, I don’t think it’s been a concern, as of right now I am really happy with our free throws”, Bolden said.
Ohio is back in action on Monday night against Northern Kentucky. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.