Kiyanna Black stole the show in The Convo Sunday, as the sophomore guard scored 35 points to lead the Bobcats to their first win the Bob Boldon era.
During a game racked by fouls, Ohio beat Xavier 94-88 and demolished its highest final point total from last season, which was 82 points in a loss to Akron.
Black was 8-for-13 from beyond the arc, which tied her for second all-time for threes made in a single game in Ohio history.
“My first few went in and then I just kept shooting,” she said. “I didn’t expect to make that many threes, but they kept going in so I kept shooting them.”
First-year coach Bob Boldon’s motion offense proved dividends, as Ohio knocked down a total of 11 three pointers. Junior Mariah Byard accounted for the other three from downtown. Also, four Bobcats had double figures including freshman forward Destini Cooper, who recorded a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
“I told them there was no way they were going to score more than 85 and I was wrong they got 94,” Boldon said. “Sometimes they do things just to spite me.”
However, between the teams there were a total of 57 fouls in the game. Much of them were a result of the NCAA’s new hand checking rule. Boldon received a technical in the first half for arguing the way the game was being officiated.
“I think you adjust to it or you argue with it,” Boldon said. “Arguing with it tends to get you a technical, so my best suggestion is that you adjust to it and figure out a way to use it to your advantage.”
Ohio struggled from the free throw line only shooting 59 percent. This allowed Xavier to fight back at the end of the game shrinking what was a 12 point lead down to four with less than a minute to play.
“I thought our ladies did a good job of attacking the rim and getting to the foul line,” Boldon said. “We left some of those on the floor. We have to make more free throws.”
Fast Facts:
-Ohio 94, Xavier 88
- The most points Ohio has scored since 2008
- Kiyanna Black scored a career high 35 points
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