Senior night in The Convo did not turn out as Ohio had hoped.
The Bobcats took their fourth conference loss at home, fifth altogether, to Bowling Green 82-67.
I'm very disappointed
coach Sylvia Crawley said. I wanted our seniors to get a win at home.
The first half started out all Bobcats. A six-point run by Chandra Myers put the Bobcats up by eight points, the highest lead held by either team in the first half.
Ohio's fortunes quickly changed, however, as Bowling Green's defense put the pressure on. Ohio (15-11, 8-5 Mid-American Conference) held its last lead of the game after a layup by Lauren Hmiel at the 6:57 mark of the first half. A 3-pointer by Bowling Green's Lauren Prochaska with 1:49 remaining in the first half gave the Falcons a three-point advantage.
Bowling Green (22-6, 11-3 MAC) never relinquished that lead and met every Ohio run with points of their own. Ohio never came closer than five points to Bowling Green after a 3-pointer by Whitney Taylor at the 12:25 mark of the second half. Ohio's largest deficit was the 15-point difference at the end of the game.
We didn't execute the way we should have senior Lauren Kohn said.
The loss takes Ohio out of the running for the MAC regular season title.
The Falcons are now riding a seven-game winning streak and lead the MAC East Division.
Myers recorded a double-double, pairing her 17 points with 10 rebounds. She was one of three Bobcats to score in double digits, alongside Quintana Ward and Jennifer Poff.
Bowling Green coach Curt Miller said Myers was able to take advantage of his team's high screen defense, a situation quite different from the first time the teams met this season when Myers scored no points.
Myers was terrific tonight Miller said. Myers did exactly what we expected. Everybody knew that she was going to be a focal point.
Myers said her performance didn't matter after taking a loss.
I would have rather had the win
Myers said. 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.
Bowling Green's Kate Achter was the game's leading scorer with 27 points. Crawley said that Achter was a key factor for the Falcons and Ohio could not find a way to stop her.
She's the queen of pick and roll
Crawley said. She played like a seasoned veteran.
Prochaska and Tara Breske both recorded double-doubles for the Falcons.
Kohn said that despite a loss last night, her experiences at Ohio make her wish she'd played here all four years.
You talk about
you know
you lost on your last home game
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
Kohn said.
Ohio will start a long, three-game road stretch Saturday when they take on Kent State. They will remain on the road until Wednesday's game at Miami.
This was an emotional and draining loss
but we have to bounce back
