In the past two games, Ohio women's basketball coach Lynn Bria received consecutive career nights from two of her top players.
On Saturday, she got another one when she needed it most - this time from an unlikely source.
Lauren Revesz came off the bench to score a career-high 26 points, and three other Bobcats scored in double figures as Ohio went on the road and knocked off Northern Illinois, 74-62.
The win for Ohio (7-11, 4-3 Mid-American Conference) is even bigger considering the team did it without leading scorer Simone Redd, who twisted her ankle during Friday's practice and consequently missed the game. Her teammates put together a solid show in her absence.
We have some other players that stepped it up today
Bria said. It was a good team effort.
In the first half, the teams exchanged baskets - and mistakes. Both teams had 11 turnovers by intermission, and neither team held more than a three-point lead until Ciara Iglehart's free throw gave the Bobcats a 34-30 lead with 12 seconds remaining in the period. Revesz led all scorers with 11.
The second half brought more of the same back-and-forth scoring, but Ohio never relinquished its grip on the lead. Revesz's second three-pointer of the game gave the Bobcats their biggest advantage at 44-36, but Northern Illinois clawed right back into the game, cutting the lead to two at several points.
However, a combination of poor Northern Illinois shooting - the Huskies (7-11, 3-4 MAC) shot 31 percent from the field in the period - and timely Ohio shots kept the Bobcats on top.
Free throws keyed Ohio's second half, as 21 of the team's 40 points came from the charity stripe and helped to fend off the Huskies' rally.
If we don't make those they're still in the game Bria said. When you get under a minute-and-a-half to go
there's more pressure
and we just hit them down the stretch.
Revesz hit all eight of her free throws in her career performance. She also went 8-of-11 from the field, including two three-pointers.
She stepped up huge
Bria said. We needed some relief
and she just went to work. She did a great job of finishing under the basket and hitting outside shots.
Scoring in double figures for the Bobcats along with Revesz were Quintana Ward with 15 points, Iglehart with 14 and Domenica Silva with 10. Stephanie Raymond led the way for all Northern Illinois scorers with 18 points.
The Bobcats return home for a televised meeting with Ball State at 8 p..m. on Tuesday, while Northern Illinois plays host to Buffalo.
- Jason Fazzone
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Jason Fazzone
