Golden Flashes make Bobcats see double

by Lonnie McMillan
Staff Writer

It is not easy to overcome an opposing player's double-double. On Saturday, the Ohio women’s basketball team learned it is even more difficult to win when two players attain that feat.

Centers Julie Studer scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Andrea Csaszar had 12 points and 12 rebounds to power Kent State to a 95-67 victory against the Bobcats.

"They worked the ball inside and showed why they are the four-time defending champs of the East Division," Ohio coach Lynn Bria said.

Guard Cathy Szall paced the Bobcats (8-15 overall, 5-9 Mid-American Conference) with 17 points.

After Kent State forward Christi Shibata opened the game with a three-pointer, but the Bobcats reeled off eight straight points for the early lead. The Golden Flashes (17-7, 12-2), however, went on a run of their own, scoring 13 straight for a 16-8 lead.

The Golden Flashes pushed the lead to as many as 11 just before halftime, but a three-pointer by Ohio guard Candace Bates cut the deficit to 41-33.

Another three by Bates pulled the Bobcats to five back with 18:05 to play. But Kent State quickly closed the door with a 20-1 run, making the score 63-39 with 12:06 left. The Golden Flashes' lead never dipped below 20 for the rest of the game.

"We knew going in that the only way we could win would be to take away the paint," Bria said. "I felt like in the first half we did a good job of that – and it showed with the game being close. In the second half, things just started to break down."

Guard Lori Krezeczowski led five Kent State players in double-figures with 18 points. Guard Carrie Nance added 16 points, and Shibata had 14.

Bates and guard Ronita Whitfield each scored 11 for the Bobcats.

Ohio’s leading scorer, Lori Moorman, was held to two points and two rebounds on 0-of-4 shooting. Moorman fouled out with 6:56 left to play and was limited to only 18 minutes.

The win clinched the MAC Eastern Division title for the Golden Flashes and ensures them a first-round bye in the MAC Tournament. The Kent State seniors notched their 43^rd straight home win to their careers 43-1 on their court. The Golden Flashes also extended their conference winning streak at home to 52.

The Bobcats' loss was the fourth straight, and they fell a game and a half behind Bowling Green for eighth place in the MAC with only two games to play. Teams seeded third through eighth play the first round of the MAC Tournament at home.

The Bobcats hope to end their skid at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Buffalo.