When the clock was all zeroes in Ypsilanti, Mich., last night, Ohio was left to face some ugly numbers. The team had committed 17 turnovers, shot 20 percent from the field and surrendered 34 points in the paint to host Eastern Michigan. The Eagles had 28 more points on the scoreboard than the Bobcats.
But the ugliest fact of all was that it was only halftime.
Ohio struggled early and throughout the game as Eastern Michigan pulled away early and never relented en route to an 85-40 win.
The Bobcats' performance against the Eagles closely resembled swiss cheese, with the holes resulting from Tenishia Benson's absence because of an injury. Ohio struggled to fill the void in the lineup that the team's leading scorer and rebounder normally occupies. But even her absence cannot account for the 45-point margin of defeat.
(We came out) flat
uninspired to play coach Semeka Randall said.
Senior center Thia Gholson started in Benson's place, but neither Gholson nor the entire team mustered much success at either end of the floor.
Ohio made only 24 percent of its field goal attempts, while Eastern Michigan converted on 62 percent of its shots.
Randall said her team allowed the Eagles to take too many trouble-free shots from close range.
The reason why they had such a high percentage is they shot layups she said.
Shavon Robinson provided Ohio's early points. Robinson scored twice in the first two minutes, giving the Bobcats a brief 4-2 lead. By the time she made her third basket, however, six minutes had elapsed and the Eagles had built a 12-point lead.
No Ohio player besides Robinson made a field goal in the first 12 minutes, 50 seconds of the game. Eastern Michigan led 47-19 at the break, by which time all of the team's 13 players that dressed had seen action.
Nine Eagles finished with at least six points. Sydney Huntley led all scorers with 14, and Tavelyn James added 12. Alesia Howard led Ohio with 13.
The Bobcats had not scored 40 or fewer points since Nov. 12, 2009. They had not allowed 85 points in a regulation-time loss since Jan. 25, 2006, and it had not lost by 45 points since Dec. 11, 2004.
Ohio managed a slim 35-32 rebounding advantage, but the team also committed 30 turnovers.
You just got to regroup. You can't harp on this
Randall said. They're smart individuals. They know
and we've just got to get ready for Northern (Illinois).
@ThePostSports
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Michael Stainbrook
