The numbers gave every indication that Ohio would be overmatched.
Bowling Green had won 38 games in a row against conference opponents and 18 consecutive games overall. The Falcons had won 29 straight games in Anderson Arena and were ranked No. 16 in the country.
As the final second ticked off the clock Saturday, those numbers became history, and the Bobcats had made a little history of their own.
Ohio rallied from a 51-40 second-half deficit to shock the Mid-American Conference and knock off Bowling Green, 70-67, becoming the first visiting team in two years to win in Anderson Arena.
We had nothing to lose
said guard Jennifer Bushby, who scored 12 points. We weren't the ones ranked No. 16 and having the big win streaks.
This team has always believed we can do it if we put in the hard work and dedication, and we're making steps toward who we want to be.
Trailing 61-58 going into the final media timeout the Bobcats (16-11 9-6 MAC) had the ball and the 'four-minutes-at-a-time' mindset that coach Sylvia Crawley has instilled in them this year.
Being down by three, we were in good position to finish up the game, said guard Lauren Kohn
who scored 17 points. In the final four minutes of the game, you have to put everything out on the line.
Guard Quintana Ward started the run by hitting her first 3-pointer of the game to tie the score at 61-61. Kohn scored the next five points to put the 'Cats in command with a minute left.
Bowling Green (25-3
14-1 MAC) got back in the game on a couple of Ohio mistakes.
The Bobcats lost possession on a jump ball
and Falcons center Liz Honegger made them pay- hitting a shot to cut the lead to 68-67. On the ensuing possession
Ward missed a wide-open lay-up and Bowling Green's Jasmine McCall was fouled on the rebound.
McCall missed the front end of the 1-and-1
but the Falcons got the ball back. With seven seconds left
Falcons guard Kate Achter threw the ball away
costing her team a shot at the win. Ohio guard Simone Redd tacked on two free throws to cap the scoring.
Forward Domenica Silva led the charge for the Bobcats with 18 points and 10 rebounds in what her teammates and coach called her best game of the season.
Domenica played like a woman among girls, Crawley said. I think I figured out how to get her to turn it on, and I'm extremely proud of her.
Silva scored six points in less than six minutes in a 14-4 second-half run that cut Bowling Green's 11-point lead down to one.
Ohio's biggest victory in years could not have come at a better time as the team prepares for the MAC Tournament in Cleveland
which starts Sunday.
This is a true testament to what this team can do when we buckle down and play for 40 minutes, Kohn said.
QUICK STATS
Ohio 70
