Despite leading Manhattan in almost every statistical category on paper coming into the game, Ohio was unable to win four straight games for the first time since the 2009 season, as the Bobcats were ice-cold from the field.
The Bobcats (4-6) had their three-game winning streak snapped, falling to Manhattan 58-49. The final point total was Ohio’s second lowest on the season.
“We came out very flat,” Ohio coach Semeka Randall said. “You’re not going to make every shot, which is why it’s so important that we get on the offensive glass to put shots back up and finish plays out.”
Ohio struggled offensively in the first half, scoring the second fewest points to start a game since recording just 16 points at Minnesota. The Bobcats entered the half with 21 points, after shooting less than 30 percent from the floor.
Sophomore guard Kat Yelle checked in during the first half and made each of her four free throw attempts, finishing the half as one of three players with four points — her only points in the game. She had played just three minutes prior to Wednesday.
The second half was much of the same story, as the Bobcats could not find a rhythm from the floor and were hindered by players in foul trouble and injuries, as sophomore guard Mariah Byard exited the game midway through the second half with an apparent knee injury.
Kiyanna Black also exited the game for a short period of time, but eventually returned to the game. Senior guard Symone Lyles and Black were the only player for Ohio to finish with double-digit points, scoring 11 and 10 points, respectively.
After making six shots from downtown Saturday against Marshall, junior guard Erin Bailes scored only four points, missing all 11 shots she took from the field. Fellow junior guard Shavon Robinson finished with just five points. The duo accounts for two of the team’s top three scorers on the season, behind Black.
Manhattan was able to out-rebound their opponent for the first time this season with a 34-30 advantage. The Jaspers also held Ohio to just 26 percent from the field, including 20 percent from downtown, while Manhattan shot 45 percent.
"We were flustered tonight when we didn’t make our first shots, which happens in a game,” said Randall.
Ohio will continue play in the Garden State Friday against Long Island-Brooklyn. The Blackbirds (2-5) have not played since Dec. 9 and have lost five of their last six games.
LIU-Brooklyn is averaging just more than 52 points per game, while allowing 61 points. The Blackbirds have attempted 101 free throws in just seven games, but are making only 57 percent of shots from the line.
Senior guard Krystal Wells leads the Blackbirds in points per game, averaging 11, as she is shooting 45 percent from beyond the arc, while junior guard Cleandra Roberts is averaging a team-high eight rebounds per game.
The Blackbirds are being outscored by 55 points in the first half, as they are averaging 19 turnovers per game — five more than their opposition. As with Manhattan, Ohio has also never played LIU-Brooklyn.
“We can take a bad taste out of our mouth and fix it,” said Randall. “We didn’t play our best basketball, in fact it was ugly, but we have a great opportunity to come out and focus for our game against LIU.”
