With the difference between Ohio and Akron's shooting last night, it wouldn't be crazy to think the teams were playing on different-sized rims.
The Zips came out hot offensively, and the Bobcats struggled to make baskets throughout the contest en route to shooting a miserable 24.1 percent on the night. The result was a 69-41 loss for the Bobcats at James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, their final regular season game of the season.
We talked about not coming out slow before the game
senior Jenny Poff said. But when some things go wrong we started to hang our heads and the momentum just stopped.
Coach Semeka Randall said that the Bobcats didn't have the same energy that the Zips showed.
We just played and never could regroup Randall said. The bad play was like a cancer going through our team.
Poff provided some early support for the Bobcats by scoring their first eight points, but the team hit a dry spell after her early baskets. Ohio only scored seven points in the last 13 minutes of the first half, and went into the locker room down 37-17.
Their hot start on offense made it frustrating for (us) on offense
Poff said. They killed our momentum.
None of the Bobcat's shooters could find a rhythm last night. After hitting two early 3-pointers, Poff finished 2-for-6 from the field. Jennifer Bushby ended the game with 5 points on 2-of-8 shooting.
Randall said the team couldn't make easy baskets and missed around 12 layups on the night.
While Ohio floundered offensively, Akron thrived. Kara Murphy and Jolene Tamboue were integral components to the first-half run, combining for 17, first-half points. The Zips finished the half shooting an astonishing 54.8 percent.
It was almost like they couldn't miss
Poff said. I thought we were playing good defense
but it seemed like everything they put up went in.
Ohio was playing its best basketball of the season after winning two straight games against Buffalo and Miami, but couldn't recreate those performances last night.
With the conference tournament starting Saturday, Poff said the loss against Akron doesn't hurt the team's momentum going into the tournament.
The tournament brings out a whole new feeling
Poff said.
We ended the regular season today and now it's time to start the new season of the tournament.
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Sports
Will Frasure
