Ohio Women’s Basketball to Play First Road Game at Wright State on Sunday – Ohio University

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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women’s basketball team (1-3, 0-0 MAC) will travel to Wright State (1-4, 0-0 Horizon) for its first road game of the season on Sunday, Nov. 24. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING WRIGHT STATE
Wright State has a 1-4 overall record heading into its matchup with Ohio. The Raiders recently fell 79-71 at Bellarmine on Thursday night.
 
The Raiders average 66.0 PPG; shooting 39.2 percent from the field, 28.2 percent from the arc and 67.6 percent from the line. The team averages 37 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 6.4 steals per game. The Raiders have forced 13.6 turnovers per game and average 12.2 points off turnovers.
 
Wright State’s opponents average 74.4 PPG; shooting 41.0 percent from the field, 32.3 percent from the arc and 71.6 percent from the line. Opponents average 41.4 rebounds, 12.4 assists and 11 steals per game. Opponents have forced Wright State to give up 19 turnovers per game and average 18.4 points off turnovers.
 
Junior Claire Henson leads Wright State in scoring with a total of 68 points. Graduate student Amaya Staton has recorded a team-high 43 rebounds and five blocks. Sophomore Olivia Brown ranks first on the team with 12 assists while redshirt sophomore Macie Taylor has tallied a team-high eight steals.
 
SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio currently has an 1-3 overall record heading into its matchup at Wright State. The Bobcats suffered a 106-42 loss to No. 12/11 Ohio State on Wednesday night.
 
The Bobcats average 53.5 PPG; shooting 30.8 percent from the field, 24.1 percent from the arc and 64.7 percent from the line. The team averages 36 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 7.8 steals per game. The Bobcats have forced 14.3 turnovers per game and average 8.8 points off turnovers.
 
Ohio’s opponents average 77.5 PPG; shooting 39.6 percent from the field, 26.8 percent from the arc and 64.7 percent from the line. Opponents average 51 rebounds, 15.3 assists and 10.5 steals per game. Opponents have forced Ohio to give up 22.8 turnovers per game and average 22.8 points off turnovers.
 
Sophomore Bailey Tabeling leads the team in scoring with a total of 52 points. Tabeling and sophomore Monica Williams are tied for first on the team in rebounding with 26 rebounds each. Williams also leads the team with 11 assists and seven steals. Tabeling has a team-high three blocks.
 
ALL TIME VS WRIGHT STATE
The Bobcats lead in their series with Wright State, 9-4.
 
LAST TIME VS WRIGHT STATE
The last competition between Ohio and Ohio State was during the 2010-11 season. The Bobcats fell to the Raiders, 70-57, at home.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio women’s basketball team (1-3, 0-0 MAC) fell 106-42 to the Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0, 0-0 B1G) on Wednesday, Nov. 20 in the Convocation Center.  
 
The Bobcats grabbed a total of 26 rebounds including 18 defensive rebounds. Ohio’s defense forced 16 turnovers and scored seven points off them. Ohio also recorded eight steals.  
 
Individually, sophomore Emma Barnett (Mount Washington, Ky.) recorded a career-high nine points, grabbed a career-high four rebounds, a career-high two blocks and snagged a career-high three steals. Sophomore Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.) finished with nine points, six rebounds and one steal. Freshman Gigi Bower (Powell, Ohio) also added a career-high seven points. Graduate student Aliah McWhorter (Cincinnati, Ohio) also contributed seven points, two rebounds and two assists. 
 
Ohio State won the tip and got on the board early. Back-to-back scoring gave the Buckeyes an early nine-point lead and forced the Bobcats to call a timeout.
 
Out of the timeout, the Buckeyes extended their lead with back-to-back jumpers. The first basket for the Bobcats was a three-point jumper from Tabeling. Barnett added to the board for the Bobcats with an exciting three-point jumper. Sophomore Monica Williams (Indianapolis, Ind.)  went 3-of-4 at the stripe during the quarter to also add points for the Bobcats.
 
The Buckeyes opened in scoring for the second quarter, but sophomore Asiah Baxter (Indianapolis, Ind.) responded quickly with a driving layup assisted by Williams. Freshman Danni Scully (Park Ridge, Ill.) added for the Bobcats in the second quarter with a basket under the rim. The Buckeyes led at the half. 
 
Ohio State began the second half with back-to-back baskets. McWhorter gave the Bobcats their first points of the half, going 2-fo-2 at the free throw line. Tabeling drew a foul on a fast break to shoot at the free-throw line, adding two more points to the board for the Bobcats. Barnett contributed to the scoreboard with another three-point jumper. Barnett made another three-point jumper assisted by Scully. Bower added in the quarter with a driving layup in the paint. 
 
Bower began the final quarter with a driving layup in the paint. McWhorter also added a free throw to the board for the Bobcats. Baxter contributed a free throw for Ohio. There was back-to-back scoring from Ohio State for the remainder of the quarter. The Bobcats fell to the Buckeyes 106-42.
 
TEAM STATISTIC CATEGORY LEADERS (TOP 3)
Points: Bailey Tabeling (52), Kate Dennis (28), Kennedi Watkins (28), Aliah McWhorter (26)
Rebounds: Bailey Tabeling (26), Monica Williams (26), Anyssa Jones (13)
Assists: Monica Williams (11), Aliah McWhorter (7), Bailey Tabeling (6)
Blocks: Bailey Tabeling (3), Emma Barnett (2), Kate Dennis (2), Asiah Baxter (1), Kennedi Watkins (1)
Steals: Monica Williams (7), Bailey Tabeling (6), Emma Barnett (4), Asiah Baxter (4), Aliah McWhorter (4)
 
MAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL STATISTICAL LEADERS (11/22)
 
Team Rankings (Top 5):
Opponent FG% – 4th (.396)
Opponent 3PT% – 4th (.268)
Opponent FT% – 5th (.647)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game – 5th (26.0)
Steals – 5th (31)
Steals Per Game – 4th (7.75)
 
INDIVIDUAL Rankings (Top 10):
Total Rebounds – Monica Williams, 10th (23)
Rebounds – Bailey Tabeling, 9th (26); Monica Williams, 10th (26)
Rebounds Per Game – Bailey Tabeling, 10th (6.5)
Defensive Rebounds – Bailey Tabeling, 6th (25)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game – Bailey Tabeling, 6th (6.3)
3PT FG’s Made Per Game – Bailey Tabeling, 5th (2.3)
Minutes Per Game – Monica Williams, 8th (33.0)
 
GAME HIGHS (Top 3):
Team 3PT FG’s Made – Ohio vs. Georgia Southern (11/4), 3rd (12)
Team 3PT FG Attempts – Ohio vs. Bellarmine (11/10), 1st (37)
Individual FG’s Made – Kennedi Watkins vs. Georgia Southern (11/4), 3rd (10)
Individual 3PT FG Attempts:
Bailey Tabeling vs. Georgia Southern (11/4), 1st (12)
Bailey Tabeling vs. Bellarmine (11/10), 2nd (12)
 
LAST SEASON’S STANDOUTS
Among Ohio’s returning players, several were standouts for the Bobcats during the 2023-24 season. Three Bobcats were recognized with 2023-24 MAC Postseason Honors for their impactful performances on the court last season.
 
Despite several inuries, junior Jaya McClure concluded her sophomore season as one of the Ohio’s top performers. The All-MAC Honorable Mention made 21 appearances with 16 starts, ranked first on the team for assists (75), second for points (278) and recorded 35 steals. Throughout the season, McClure tallied a career-high 26 points, 11 FGM, nine assists, seven rebounds and seven FTM.
 
Senior Kennedi Watkins made an immediate impact for the Bobcats in her first season at Ohio. Along with McClure, Watkins was named an All-MAC Honorable Mention. She made 26 appearances with 21 starts, ranked first on the team in points (288), blocks (12), averaged 11.1 PPG, grabbed 98 rebounds and ranked eighth in the MAC for steals with 40 total. Watkins recorded a career-high 26 points, five blocks, 10 FGM and seven rebounds.
 
Sophomore Bailey Tabeling ended her debut season at Ohio as one of the top three-point shooters in MAC and NCAA. She was named to the MAC All-Freshman Team after ranking third on the team for points (260), second for steals (48), grabbing 75 rebounds and recording 32 assists. Tabeling ranked third in the MAC for three-point percentage, fourth for 3FGs per game and seventh for steals. The sophomore also ranked 24th in the NCAA for three-point percentage at the end of the season.
 
VETERAN BOBCATS
The Ohio women’s basketball team has nine players returning for the 2024-25 season including the previously named standouts; Jaya McClure (Jr.), Kennedi Watkins (Sr.) and Bailey Tabeling (So.).
 
Guards Kate Dennis (Sr.) and Monica Williams (So.) were important contributors for the team and consistently part of Ohio’s starting lineup last season. Both Bobcats started and played in all 30 games during the 2024-25 season.
 
Dennis played 697 minutes across 30 games. She finished the 2022-23 season with 183 points, 57 rebounds, eight assists, eight blocks and 17 steals. Dennis ranked second in three-pointers (47), 3PT % (.343), blocks and first for FT%. The senior averaged less than one turnover per game with 21 total last season. Dennis recorded multiple career bests last season including 14 points versus Kent State (2/21/24), four steals versus IUPUI (11/26/23) and four blocks at App State (11/11/23).
 

Williams played a team-high 788 minutes, averaging 26.3 minutes per game across 30 games. In her debut season with Ohio, she recorded 247 points, 68 assists, 101 rebounds, 42 steals and seven blocks. Williams ranked second on the team for assists, third for steals, blocks and fifth for blocks. The sophomore netted a season-high 15 points at Kent State (1/6/24), recorded a season-high eight rebounds versus Eastern Michigan (1/20/24), a season-high five assists & seven steals versus Central Michigan (3/2/24) and three blocks versus Kent State (2/21/24).
 
Coming off the bench last season, Asiah Baxter (So.) played 73 minutes across 12 games as a guard for Ohio. Baxters netted 13 points and shot 41.7 percent from the field. She also totaled 10 rebounds and two assists. Baxter played a season-high 21 minutes at Ball State (2/3/24)
 
Cassidy Lafler (Jr.), Emma Barnett (So.) and Aja Austin (Sr.) are Ohio’s three returning forwards. All three Bobcats missed a large portion or the entirety of the 2023-24 season due to injuries.
 
WELCOME TO ATHENS
Ohio welcomes seven newcomers, including three freshmen, a redshirt freshman, sophomore and two transfers, to its 2024-25 roster.
 
Gigi Bower (Freshman; Powell, Ohio): A 5-9 guard, Bower joins the team after being a four-year letterwinner for basketball at Olentangy Liberty.
She earned several honors including Second Team All-State, First Team All-OCC, OCC Central Player of the Year, First Team All-District 11, First Team All-Delaware County, Delaware County Player of the Year and SBC Live All Star. During the 2022-23 season, Bower set the record for the most three pointers in a season and helped her team to an OCC Championships title.
 
Kiersten Cashell (Sophomore; Hilliard, Ohio): A 5-10 guard, Cashell was a four-year letterwinner for basketball at Hilliard Davidson High School. In 2022-23, Cash was a team captain, played in 22 games and averaged 12.5 points per game. The Hilliard native was named All-OCC Second Team and team MVP. Cashell received the Sharon Huesman Memorial and OCC Byron Prushing scholarships.
 
Anyssa Jones (Graduate Student; Westerville, Ohio): Prior to Ohio, Jones started her collegiate career at Ohio State before transferring to Dayton and playing for the Flyers for two seasons. At Dayton, the 5-10 guard appeared in 59 games, made 43 starts and averaged 27.8 minutes per game. In two seasons with the Flyers, she amassed a total of 541 points, 288 rebounds, 52 assists and 55 steals in her two seasons with the Flyers. At Ohio State, Jones appeared in 15 games, was two-time Scholar-Athlete Award recipient and earned 2021-22 Academic All-Conference honors.
 
Madison Lim (Redshirt Freshman; Marysville, Ohio):  A 5-10 guard, Lim was a four-year letterwinner for basketball at Mechanicsburg High School where she served as team captain. She was a recipient of the 2022-23 Scholar-Athlete Award. She helped her team to two conference championship titles and a birth to the 2023 District Semifinals. Lim started in all 25 games during senior season.
 
Aliah McWhorter (Graduate Student; Cincinnati, Ohio): A 6-1 guard, McWhorter enters her first year with the Bobcats spending four season playing at Wake Forest. She did not see action for two seasons due to injury. In total, McWhorter played in 19 games and made for start for the Demon Deacons. During the 2023-24 season, McWhorter appeared in 14 games, made one start versus North Carolina (2/18) and tallied 45 total minutes on the court.
 
Olivia Rinard (Freshman; Williamstown, W. Va.): A 5-5 guard, Rinard was a four-year letterwinner for basketball and soccer in high school. Rinard attended Williamstown High School for two years before transferring to Marietta High School for her junior and senior years. During her freshman season, Rinard’s team competed at the West Virginia State Final Four.
 
Danni Scully (Freshman; Park Ridge, Ill.): A 6-1 forward, Scully was a four-year letterwinner for basketball at Nazareth Academy. She was a team captain, two-time All-Conference, a Montini Christmas First Team All-Tournament selection and named an All-State Honorable Mention. In 2023, Scully received the MVP Award in the state semi-final game. Scully helped her team to a 2022 State Runner Up finish and a 2023 State Championship title.
 
2024-25 MAC PRESEASON POLL
The Ohio women’s basketball team was selected to finish sixth, tied with NIU, in the 2024-25 MAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as announced by the league on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Ohio earned 64 points and was chosen to finish above Miami (OH) (44), Akron (43), Western Michigan (34), Eastern Michigan (23) and Central Michigan (20). Ball State (120) was selected to finish first in the conference with 10 first-place votes. Kent State (104) also received two first- place votes and was chosen to finish second in the conference. Ball State (8) was also selected to win the 2025 MAC Tournament, followed by Bowling Green (1), Buffalo (1), Kent State (1) and Toledo (1).
 
2024-25 PRESEASON ALL-MAC
Junior guard Jaya McClure was selected to the Preseason All-MAC Second Team, as announced by the league on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Last season, McClure was named an All-MAC Honorable Mention after appearing in 22 games and making 17 starts. McClure concluded the season with 278 points, 12.6 PPG, 75 assists, 35 steals and 56 rebounds. McClure ranked first on the team for assists and second for points.
 
BOBCATS STAFF: FAMILIAR FACES
Ohio returns almost its entire coaching staff from last season. Associate Head Coach Tavares Jackson joins head coach, Bob Bolden, in his 12th season with the Bobcats. Assistant Coach Chelsea Welch enters her third season and Director of Operations Ebony Pegues enters her fourth season with the program. Kaylee Gregory Bambule has been promoted to an assistant coach
 
UP NEXT
The Bobcats will be back in action when they host Ohio Christian on Tuesday, Dec. 3. Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
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