In her first action as an Ohio Bobcat, freshman forward KeyAuna Jenkins felt the highs and lows of basketball at the collegiate level.
After a lackluster first half in which she scored only three points, Jenkins tallied 11 points and five rebounds in the second half to help Ohio get past West Liberty State 83-61.
Coach Lynn Bria said she was a bit surprised by Jenkins' slow start but was pleased with her strong second half.
I was surprised that she played so bad in the first half
she said. She responded so well in the second half though. I hardly played her at all in the first half and I really challenged her at halftime. I told her that she needed to play hard and was going to get another chance and I was going to watch her. I thought she'd respond but not quite like that.
Jenkins attributed her slow start to nerves.
I think I was a little nervous
so I didn't play as well in the first half
she said.
Jenkins was not the only player to come out of the gate slow in the first half as the Bobcats, as a team, came out collectively sluggish. West Liberty State took an early 15-9 lead after guard Brandy Terry knocked down her third three-pointer within 2:30. Terry would finish with a game-high 21 points.
The Bobcats would respond, however, by taking the lead for good with 10:44 left in the first half after point guard Quintana Ward netted a free throw to put the 'Cats up 22-21. Ohio would then seemingly put the contest out of reach by outscoring the Hilltoppers 17-8 in the final 8:22 to go up 43-31 at the half.
Bria and guard Simone Redd said they were not delighted by the lethargic start.
I didn't like the first half at all
Bria said. Just defensively in moving and helping each other out it seemed like we were a half a step slow on everything. I think we need to come out of the gate stronger, Redd said. We let them hang around, and we just didn't come out strong. We were solid in the final 20 minutes, but we just need to do that for the entire game.
