The Ohio Bobcats started off the 2011 season on a losing note, falling to Morehead State 57-62.
Ohio traded baskets with Morehead State early in the first half, with the Eagles’ largest lead of the game coming at the 2:47 mark, when they were ahead by nine points. Senior Tenishia Benson recorded 18 points for the Bobcats. Sophomore Erin Bailes also led the charge with 12 points in the game.
Bailes helped spark Ohio in the second half, in which she scored 10 of her points. One of Ohio’s problems throughout the game was its inability to keep Morehead State seniors Courtney Lumpkin and Linda Dixon in check, coach •Semeka Randall said.
“You never want players like that to get off,” Randall said. “We needed to close out on them better and make them take tougher shots.”
Lumpkin had 23 points for the Eagles, with 17 of them coming in the first half.
Dixon also had a big game with 20 points.
One of the bright spots for Ohio was its rebounding. The Bobcats out-rebounded Morehead State 42-30. Benson and junior Porsha Harris had eight boards each for the Bobcats, and freshman Kat Yelle chipped in with seven rebounds. Ohio held Morehead State junior Ashar Harris in check with four points and •eight rebounds.
Ohio also got her to commit •three fouls in the first half. But the Bobcats opened the second half as a completely different team. They committed 14 fouls in the second half, and Randall noted they were passive in the second half in attacking the basket. Ohio only committed three fouls in the first half while Morehead State had 10. Randall was pleased with the effort but she said there is still work to be done.
“We just have to learn from this game and get better, but I saw some really good things,” Randall said. “We must become a physical team with the basketball.”
Ohio’s next game is on Saturday when the team travels to Marshall to face the Thundering Herd.
mk277809@ohiou.edu
