CLEVELAND - With 1:24 remaining in Ohio's Mid-American Conference quarterfinal matchup with Eastern Michigan and the game seemingly out of reach, guard Rachel Frederick thunderously slapped the floor in frustration.
The slap not only summed up the frustration felt after coming all the way back from a 14-point deficit, only to see it slip away at the end to Eastern Michigan, 76-66, but from a season filled with similar, heartbreaking outcomes.
It was frustrating
Frederick said, but this wasn't the first time it's happened to us this year.
When the Bobcats faced the Eagles earlier in the season, Ohio came back from a 19-point deficit to tie the contest with three minutes left in the game, only to see their rally attempt come up short in the 62-56 loss.
After spotting Eastern Michigan 14 points to start the game this time around, Ohio recovered and slowly cut the deficit before Simone Redd's jumper in the lane with 5:26 remaining tied the contest, 59-59.
Led by guard Ryan Coleman, who scored 20 of her game-high 24 points in the second half, the Eagles responded with a 10-0 run to end any hopes of a Bobcat comeback.
We just couldn't get over that hump Frederick said. Coleman hit some big shots and (Sarah) VanMetre hit a big three. Once we got there they just kept on going.
Eastern Michigan forward Nikki Knapp said that the Eagles always look for Coleman when the game is on the line.
I think everyone on our team looks to Ryan when the game gets tight
Knapp said. She's our go-to player. When times get tough in the game
Ryan always seems to come through for us.
From the start, it did not look like Eastern Michigan had to worry about a close game. The Eagles dominated play from the start, hitting their jumpers and having their way inside the paint en route to a 14-0 lead. Six minutes into the contest, Quintana Ward netted the Bobcats' first points with a driving lay-up. The Bobcats then slowly recovered, going into halftime down, 31-23.
Coach Lynn Bria said that Ward's lay-up helped relieve the team's nerves.
Just getting that first basket really lifted us
she said. We then got the ball inside and started to finish a little more. We shot a good percentage but they shot a great one.
Frederick led all Bobcats with 17 points while Ward, Ciara Iglehart and Lauren Revesz all reached double figures in scoring.
Despite the tough loss, Frederick predicted a strong showing from the Bobcats next season.
I have no doubt in my mind that we're going to be one of the top team's in the conference next year
Frederick said. We're going to lose Ciara
but with the team we have coming back next year along with Lauren Kohn we're going to be a top team in the conference and we won't have these deficits.
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