Lady Bobcats fall on basketball's Senior Night
By Andrew Reeder, Staff Writer
February 29, 2008 | 3 p.m.
Ohio University’s lady hoopsters could not muster a win on Senior Night this past Wednesday at the Convocation Center. The Bobcats fell to division leader Bowling Green State University 82-67.
Ohio (15-11, 8-5 Mid-American Conference) came out firing on all cylinders in the first half by stringing together three 3-point field goals along with Chandra Myers’ three consecutive baskets in the paint to put the ‘Cats up by eight points. However, the Bowling Green Falcons (22-6, 11-3 MAC) took advantage of Ohio’s 12 first-half turnovers and took the lead with 6:06 to go and never looked back.
Ohio has struggled at home this season, posting a mediocre 8-7 record while at the Convo.
“I just wanted our seniors to win on their home court for their last home game,” coach Sylvia Crawley said.
Senior Quintana Ward scored 12 points while fellow senior guards Lauren Kohn and Simone Redd contributed nine and three points respectively. It was just the fifth time all season that Kohn, who leads the team in scoring, did not finish in double-digits.
“You talk about, you know, you lost on your last home game,” Kohn said. "But 10 years down the road it’s not going to be the wins and losses that you remember. It’s going to be your teammates and the people you met and the memories you made.”
Jennifer Poff also had 12 points for the ‘Cats, and Chandra Myers led the home team with 17 points and 10 rebounds, her third double-double this season.
“I would have rather had the win,” Myers said of her performance. “I think at this point in time in our season it’s more important to have the win than whoever scores or having a great game.”
For the Falcons, senior guard Kate Achter led the way. Achter had 27 points and went 7-8 from the free-throw line. The Falcons’ sophomore forward Tara Breske and freshman Lauren Prochaska both had double-doubles.
Bowling Green coach Curt Miller was pleased with his team’s performance.
“We did not expect to come down here and steal a road victory,” Miller said.
After the loss, the Bobcats are now out of contention for the MAC East Division title but could still clinch a bye in the first round of the MAC Tournament. Byes are given to the first and second place teams in each division, but the Green-and-White will face an uphill battle on the road.
“To get three wins on the road is very important, especially in getting that bye in the MAC tournament,” Kohn said.
Ohio sits in third place in the MAC East Division, a game behind Miami University, and must win all three of their remaining games to receive a bye. All three games are on the road and within five days against Kent State University (March 1), Northern Illinois University (March 3) and Miami (March 5).
“We just got to keep pushing along," Crawley said. "I think it will come down to us pulling head-to-head with Miami in the end.”
Since the Bobcats beat Miami earlier in the season, Ohio would win a tiebreaker in the event that both teams finish with an 11-5 conference record.
“That’s what we’re hoping for," Crawley said. “We don’t have time to cry over this one. We got to brush ourselves off and come back and keep fighting.”
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