Nov. 14, 2008

Final Stats

Box Score in PDF Format

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Ohio used a 15-2 run at the start of the second to separate itself from Navy on its way to recording a 63-48 victory over the Midshipmen, Friday night at Alumni Hall in Annapolis. It was the first game of the season for both women's basketball programs.

Ohio held a lead of as many as eight points during the opening 20 minutes of play, but Navy responded with a 12-2 run to take a 21-19 lead with just under four minutes remaining in the half. Whitney Davidson (Sr., New Oxford, Pa.) scored seven points during the run to help rally the Mids. After an Ohio basket by Danielle Woodmore tied the game, Cassie Consedine (So., Bartlesville, Okla.) connected on a three-pointer to give the Mids a 24-21 lead with 2:45 left in the half. The Mids came away empty on each of their ensuing possessions in the half, however, which allowed Ohio to take a 25-24 lead into the locker rooms at intermission.

The Bobcats promptly started the second half by connecting on seven of their first nine shots from the floor, while the Mids misfired on all but one of their opening 10 shots from the field during the same span, to give Ohio a 40-26 lead with just under 13 minutes remaining in the game.

"We played a good first half," said Navy head coach Stefanie Pemper. "We had some shots that didn't fall and we would have had a bigger lead and maybe some more confidence. We needed to withstand what Ohio did in that first five-six minutes of the second half regardless of whether we were up one or up seven, so we need to learn how to stay confident, stay tough and make plays. I thought Ohio turned it up a notch with their intensity and we didn't respond. They got a couple of easy baskets and then that challenges our poise. Overall I think we bounced back pretty nicely and stayed together, so we will learn from that."

After shooting 54.5 percent from the floor in the first half, Ohio connected on 61.5 percent of its field goal attempts after halftime. Navy, meanwhile, shot 40 percent and 32.3 percent from the floor in the two halves, respectively, and were 0-of-11 from behind the three-point stripe during the second half. Ohio also held a sizeable advantage of 36-20 on the glass, with Navy forcing Ohio into 21 turnovers and committing 15 turnovers of its own.

The two teams combined to attempt just six free throws in the game. Navy made all four of its shots from the charity stripe, while Ohio converted on its lone two free throw attempts.

Consedine paced all players in the game with 17 points, while Jenny Poff scored 15 points to lead Ohio.

Navy will now open a stretch of four consecutive games on the road Sunday when the Mids play at Howard in a 2 p.m. contest.

"It's probably nice (to be playing again so soon)," said Pemper. "We'll get the chance to watch some of tonight's game and work on some things tomorrow. It's early in the season and we are a new team working together so all of these games are going to help us learn with more of a sense of urgency than any practice will."