Ohio beat Virginia Tech in the Women's National Invitation Tournament and will play Temple in the Sweet Sixteen.
The game was not nearly as close as the final score indicated.
After Kiyanna Black went out with a shoulder injury, Virgina Tech’s Sidney Cook scored seven straight points, shaving Ohio’s 12-point lead down to just five with 15 seconds left.
Ohio was able to hold on for the 64-57 win over Virginia Tech on Sunday in The Convo, advancing the Bobcats to the Sweet Sixteen of the Women's National Invitation Tournament.
For a team that struggled against the zone all season, Ohio managed to find a way to beat it.
“I personally hate the zone,” Quiera Lampkins said. “So as soon as we find a way to get them in, man, it’s pretty great.”
Lampkins had a quiet 26 points and had her way from the beginning. She opened up the first quarter with 10 points and had 14 at the half.
Her and the Bobcats found a way to diffuse the zone early in the game, and that benefitted them the most.
“I thought our ball movement versus their zone was as good as it’s been in a long time,” coach Bob Boldon said.
Throughout the entire game, Ohio moved the ball with quick, efficient passes and dump passes inside to either Lampkins or Jasmine Weatherspoon.
At one point, the ball touched all five players on the court before a shot went up. A lot of the smooth ball movement started with Yamonie Jenkins.
Jenkins, a junior guard, was key in getting the ball around to her teammates. She played one of her best games as the “coach on the floor role” she adopted this season. She finished with 10 points, three assists and two steals.
And although Jenkins played the best all-around game, Lampkins took control of the game when it mattered.
“I thought both (Lampkins and Jenkins) did a good job of controlling the game, attacking and getting us good shots,” Boldon said.
With three minutes left in the third quarter, Ohio’s lead had diminished to just four after being up by 13 at the half.
Ohio went on to close the third quarter on an 8-0 run to regain a double-digit lead, and Lampkins had six of those points — the last four on back-to-back possessions following a Virginia Tech turnover.
That being said, Jenkins said the team is excited to be playing in the Sweet Sixteen of the tournament.
“I think now we are set on this our other chance to prove ourselves,” Jenkins said. “We are all excited to keep going and keep winning.”
Ohio will play Temple on the road Thursday night at 7 p.m.
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