CLEVELAND--Lauren Hmiel was somber in the post game press conference.
The senior had played her last game as a Bobcat, losing 77-70 to Toledo in the second round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament Friday morning at Quicken Loans Arena.
Hmiel scored a game-high 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting. She also grabbed nine rebounds.
I know that she didn't want her season to end like this
coach Semeka Randall said. That's why she kept fighting. That's just speaking of her character.
Hmiel led a second half Bobcat surge.
Trailing Toledo 37-26 with 19:40 remaining in the game, Ohio went on a 17-5 run during the next four minutes. This gave the Bobcats their first lead of the game.
Hmiel made two layups and pulled down two offensive rebounds in the stretch.
She hit two jumpers and stole the ball that led to Jenny Poff's tying 3-pointer at the 5:08 mark. This would be the last time Ohio would have at least a share of the lead.
Tricia Cullop, Toledo's coach, knew that Hmiel posed the biggest threat to her team.
The thing we kept talking about was 'Don't let Lauren Hmiel beat us ' Cullop said. When they made their surge
it was by her leadership.
Hmiel, however, was out-dueled by Jessica Williams and Tanika Mays.
Williams rocked Ohio from beyond the arc. She shot 7-of-8 from 3 and finished with 23 points.
Her 3-pointers came at critical moments of the game.
Toledo overwhelmed the Bobcats in the first half, going on a 10-0 run in the first four minutes of play. Ohio responded with a 7-0 run for a minute and a half, getting them within five points.
But Toledo rocketed away. Williams drained three 3-pointers on four possessions from 13:31 to 11:56. The Rockets had a 21-9 stretch following those possessions.
The Bobcats had one last gasp at the 4:12 mark, when Toledo was only up 66-64. Williams dropped a momentum-swinger 3-pointer to give her team a five-point lead.
Ohio never recovered.
We knew coming in that (Williams) was a 3-point shooter
Hmiel said. We gave her too many uncontested shots
but it was tough to stop a shooter like that when they're on and we're not trying to get out on them.
Mays added 23 points to complement Williams. Most of her points contributed to Toledo's 38 points in the paint.
Kamille Buckner wasn't able to contain Mays.
(Mays and the post players) were just on tonight
Buckner said. We didn't counter that
Buckner said.
Ohio wasn't able to answer Williams' 3-point shooting.
Poff went 1-for-10 from beyond the arc, hitting her only 3 with 5:08 remaining in the game. This tied the game before Toledo pulled away.
It was the one 3-pointer that the Bobcats made all game. Overall, the Bobcats were 1-of-13 from that range.
Ohio looked lethargic for much of the game.
Toledo out-ran Ohio on defense on multiple occasions. Toledo converted the fast breaks into 12 points.
The Rocket took advantage of 23 Bobcat turnovers, too. Toledo scored 27 points off of turnovers.
Hmiel said that the team felt slow.
We were a step too short throughout the game
she said. We fought really hard
but we were a step too slow.
-----
Quick Stats
Toledo (18-12, 11-5 MAC) 77, OHIO (13-18, 7-9 MAC) 70
Friday, Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
Leading Scorers:
(OHIO) Lauren Hmiel, 25 points
(UT) Jessica Williams and Tanika Mays, 23
Rebounding Leaders:
(OHIO) Da'Keisha Mann and Hmiel, 9
(UT) Allie Clifton, 10
Assist Leaders:
(OHIO) Mann, 2
(UT) Naama Shafir, 6
