Ohio Women's Basketball Drops Opener

Contact: Heather Czeczok, 740-593-1299 or sports.media@ohio.edu

ATHENS, Ohio (November 21, 2000) -- Ohio University opened its women's basketball season Tuesday night with an 84-73 road loss at Evansville. The Bobcats stayed close to the Purple Aces, who received votes in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25, but could not overcome a 20-4 run against them to start the second half.

The Bobcats were led by sophomore Beckie Fischer, who tied her career highs of 15 points and six rebounds. Heather Laughlin and Lori Moorman tallied 12 and 10 points, respectively, while tying for team-high rebounding honors at seven.

The Bobcats led by as much as four points throughout much of the first half, but the two teams went to the locker room tied, 36-36, at intermission.

UE opened the game up in the second half. After Ohio scored the first two points of the period, the Aces went on a 20-2 run and led 56-40 with 13 minutes remaining in the contest. Ohio climbed back into the contest as the Bobcats twice trimmed the lead back to five points. But UE, which shot just 62.9 percent (22-of-35) from the free throw line in the game, made six-of-eight free throws in the final 1:30 to seal the victory.

Jenna Hayes, filling in for injured Evansville star Shyla McKibbon, tallied career-highs in points (19) and rebounds (eight) for Evansville. Latasha Austin hit for 12 points, while Tami Masterson added 11 and Lisa Eckart chipped in 10.

Ohio opens its home season Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. against in-state rival Wright State.