There was chaos in the Convocation Center today as Ohio (2-1 overall) tried to hold on to its big halftime lead against Morehead State (2-2 overall) in Rufus’ Field Trip Game. The Convo was packed with elementary school kids from all across Southeast Ohio to watch the Bobcats take on the Eagles.
Ohio started the game strong on both sides of the ball, but especially on defense, where it was getting steals, blocks, rebounds and playing with 100% effort. This first half had the crowd going crazy, but Ohio had to survive through another third-quarter collapse.
The first quarter was very one-sided in the Bobcats’ direction. They were struggling with shooting early, but it wasn’t a problem because the Bobcats' defense was playing out of their minds.
“We were very disruptive,” Ohio head coach Bob Boldon said. “We were forcing turnovers and disrupting the timing of what they did.”
A very defensive first quarter ended with a 16-10 Ohio lead after a Morehead State half-court buzzer beater.
The second quarter was very similar to the first one, but even more dominant. Not only was Ohio’s defense playing just as good as it had in the first quarter, but the offense was starting to click as well.
The defense was getting blocks and steals and sending it down to the offense for easy layups. Guard Aliah McWhorter had seven points in the second quarter alone as Ohio would outscore the Eagles by 13 to earn a dominant halftime lead of 37-18.
Morehead State came out of the halftime break very strong, continuing the poor third-quarter trend for Ohio. The defense was playing very strongly, and offensively, it was efficient, going 11-16 from the field in the third.
That strong 19-point lead from Ohio quickly started falling apart. Morehead State went on a huge 15-0 run to end the quarter, only down by two.
“I definitely think it’s just coming together at the start of the quarter,” junior guard Asiah Baxter said on the third quarter troubles. “They go on a 5-0 run, it’s important for us to come together, and hold each other accountable.”
The fourth quarter started just how the third quarter ended, as Morehead State brought it to a one-point game and had all of the momentum.
Ohio just kept fighting, refusing to give up the lead to the Eagles.
“Just trusting each other, and as Asiah said, holding each other accountable and staying together in that moment,” junior guard Bailey Tabeling said when asked about the fourth-quarter response.
Halfway through the fourth quarter, Ohio started playing like that first-half team. It slowly started to build a lead until Tabeling made a dagger and-one to cap off a big game for her and Ohio, securing a win.
“Just reading the floor, and the defense,“ Tabeling said when asked about her great day, where she recorded a statline of 15 points, six rebounds and five assists. "My teammates do a really good job of moving off the ball and cutting to the ball but also being ready for my passes.”
After Bailey’s dagger and-one the rowdy crowd of elementary school kids got even more rowdy, providing a great atmosphere.
“It’s just an awesome day for the community to come be a part of it, and for our players to be a part of it,” Boldon said on the crowd.
Ohio squeaked out the win over Morehead State 76-60 to get its first home win of the season and improve its overall record to 2-1. The Bobcats' next game is in exactly a week as they travel to Cincinnati to take on the Xavier Musketeers in their second away game of the season.
