At the onset of the Ohio women's basketball team's 85-73 victory against Mid-American Conference foe Western Michigan last night, it seemed like the crowd could be counted on one hand.
During the Groundhog Day game, which was dictated by stout defense, fast breaks and a frantic pace, it was possible to pick out lone cheerers and jeerers from the audience. Complimentary mini-balls thrown into the stands after 3-pointers found empty seats; a few fans lazily rose to retrieve them. Noise from the lively Ohio band seemed to be the only thing preventing the ability to hear a pin drop -or coaches' temperatures rise while their players missed shots in the lane, committed myriad turnovers and fouled sometimes irresponsibly.
Wanda Chapple, aunt of Ohio junior Tiffany Byrd, may have been the loudest member of the crowd. Fueled only by a bag of Skittles, she and Byrd's grandmother, Naomi Barclay, heckled and chanted for the game's entirety. Elongated yawps and shouts of In her face rang loud and clear while the Bobcats' undulating level of play carried on.
But there was no mistaking the lulls. As The Convo was at times almost silent, more than one spectator could be found sleeping. An unmistakable swoosh of the net could be heard as Western Michigan's Carrie Moore nailed two 3-pointers after halftime. Western Michigan supporters' calls of travel sparked a near uprising as some Bobcats on the bleachers turned around, having heard the blasphemy.
Not that the game wasn't exciting. The Bobcats started on a lull of their own, trailing 18-5 barely 10 minutes into the game. But they proved their resiliency, going on runs and outscoring the Broncos 34-12 to take a 39-30 lead at halftime.
But the Broncos refused to be bucked, showing resiliency of their own when they started the second half on another 18-5 run, sparked by seven straight points by Moore, their leading scorer. Ohio down 48-44, a fuming coaching staff called a timeout; what they said couldn't quite be heard, but it inspired the Bobcats, who went on a 23-5 run to take a 14-point lead at 67-53.
Every time we get up by 15
I'm a nervous wreck coach Lynn Bria said at a post-game press conference.
The final 10 minutes had given her further reason to believe it. By the time the three-minute mark rolled around, Ohio found itself up by only three, and another excruciatingly close finish seemed imminent.
And it only fueled the Ohio fire.
Once they're on a run that's our momentum right there
Ohio forward Ciara Iglehart said.
She was right, and the 13-4 run Ohio went on to close the game was proof. Turnover after turnover was caused by its smothering defense that gave Western Michigan headaches all night, and the Bobcats converted superbly in the final three minutes, mimicked by the crowd's crescendo.
Simone (Redd) and A.J. (Andrea Johnson) stepped up huge
Bria said.
The two hit two free throws apiece down the stretch to spark the game-ending run that quieted the Bronco bench.
Western Michigan finished the game with 34 turnovers. At times, it looked as though the Broncos were giving Ohio the ball. If that was indeed the case, the 'Cats were happy to take it, just like they took the game and the heart of Western Michigan. Coach Ron Stewart did not make it to the press conference to comment.
There were several stories during last night's game: Angel Hornsburger's increasing playing time, Western Michigan's now-five-game losing streak, Moore's near double-double of 25 points and nine turnovers. But if there was one that stood out, it was Ohio's defense and its ability to convert down the stretch, capped off by Iglehart's layup with three seconds to go.
Na na na na
na na na na
hey hey hey
goodbye
hollered Chapple and Barclay in the direction of the Western Michigan bench.
It was the loudest The Convo had been all night.
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