Story Courtesy of Ohio Athletic Communications

ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball (18-13, 11-7 MAC) team is set to face UMBC (16-14, 10-6 America East) in the first round of the WNIT on Thursday, March 19 in the Convocation Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+. The winner of Thursday night's contest will advance to the second round of the WNIT and face Sun Belt Conference foe, Marshall (23-9, 13-5 SBC), in Huntington, W. Va. You can view the full 2026 WNIT bracket here and Tournament Central here.

Ohio has a 18-13 overall and 11-7 conference record heading into its WNIT first-round matchup against UMBC.
 
The Bobcats average 74.2 PPG; shooting 40.0 percent from the field, 32.2 percent from the arc and 66.1 percent from the line. Ohio averages 37.2 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 11.7 steals and 3.0 blocks. The Bobcats have forced 21.3 turnovers per game and average 21.4 points off turnovers.
 
Ohio's opponents average 71.5 PPG; shooting 40.4 percent from the field, 32.6 percent from the arc and 70.6 percent from the line. Opponents average 42.2 rebounds, 15.8 assists, 8.0 steals and 3.3 blocks per game. Opponents have forced 17.4 turnovers per game and average 15.8 points off turnovers.
 
LAST TIME VS UMBC
The two teams last met during the 2013-14 season when the Bobcats defeated the Retrievers 84-36.
 
ALL TIME VS UMBC
Ohio leads UMBC in the two team's all-time series, 1-0.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The No. 5 seed Ohio women's basketball team (18-13, 11-7 MAC) fell 80-52 to No. 1 seed Miami (27-6, 16-2 MAC) in the semifinals of the 2026 MAC Tournament on Friday, March 13 in Rocket Arena.
 
Ohio shot 28.4 percent from the field, 13.8 percent from the arc and 66.7 percent from the line. The Bobcats finished with 41 rebounds, seven assists, 11 steals and four blocks.
 
Redshirt sophomore Monica Williams (Indianapolis, Ind.) led the Bobcats in scoring with 18 points. Williams finished 6-for-13 from the field, 3-for-6 from the arc and 3-for-4 from the line. Graduate student Elli Garnett (Lakewood, Colo.) grabbed a team-high nine rebounds in addition to eight points. Junior Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.) tallied a team-high four assists. Junior Asiah Baxter (Indianapolis, Ind.) led the team in steals with four total. Freshman ReRe Jennings (Killeen, Texas) finished with a team-high two blocks.
 
Both teams got off to a quick start as the Bobcats trailed the RedHawks, 9-8 in the first five minutes. Miami went on a significant scoring run, extending its lead to 18-8 with 2:20 left on the clock. Back-to-back layups by Tabeling and sophomore Danni Scully (Park Ridge, Ill.) cut Miami's lead to 24-13 at the end of the first quarter.
 
The Bobcats' struggles with shooting became their achilles heel in the second quarter. Miami outscored Ohio 24-11, earning a 48-24 lead at the half.
 
Ohio continued to struggle on offense but made some crucial stops on its defensive end. With 4:38 left in the third quarter, the Bobcats trailed the RedHawks 55-32. Miami extended its lead to 60-34 with just under three minutes to play. At the end of the third quarter, Ohio trailed Miami 66-39.
 
Despite being down for majority of the game, the Bobcats never gave up. Miami barely outscored Ohio in the fourth quarter, 14-13. The Bobcats were unable to catch up with the RedHawks and ultimately fell 80-52 in the MAC semifinals.
 
TEAM STATISTICAL CATEGORY LEADERS (TOP 3)
Points: Bailey Tabeling (450/14.5 PG), Bella Ranallo (324/11.2 PG), Elli Garnett (245/8.4 PG)
FG Made: Bailey Tabeling (149), Bella Ranallo (103), Aliah McWhorter (87)
3PT Made: Bailey Tabeling (78), Bella Ranallo (46), Elli Garnett (38)
FT Made: Bailey Tabeling (74), Bella Ranallo (72), Monica Williams (61)
Rebounds: Elli Garnett (164/5.7 PG), Asiah Baxter (144/4.6 PG), Bailey Tabeling (121/3.9 PG)
Assists: Bailey Tabeling (97), Elli Garnett (57), Monica Williams (53)
Blocks: ReRe Jennings (17), Bailey Tabeling (16), Antonicia Moultrie (15)
Steals: Bailey Tabeling (72), Bella Ranallo (56), Asiah Baxter (49)
Minutes Played: Bailey Tabeling (946/30.5 PG), Asiah Baxter (835/26.9 PG), Bella Ranallo (724/25.0 PG)
 
BOBCATS SELECTED FOR 2026 WNIT
For the first time since 2022, the Ohio women's basketball teamearned an at-large bid to the Women's Basketball National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). The Bobcats will host UMBC in the first round on Thursday, March 19, at 7:00 p.m., inside the Convocation Center.
 
In the field of 48 teams, Ohio is the only women's program that will be representing the Mid-American Conference. This is Ohio's first WNIT appearance since the 2021-22 season when they were defeated on the road by South Dakota State. This is the program's sixth overall appearance in the WNIT and the Bobcats have a 6-6 record at the tournament during head coach Bob Boldon's tenure.
 
The winner of Thursday night's contest will advance to the second round of the WNIT and face Sun Belt Conference foe, Marshall (23-9, 13-5 SBC), in Huntington, W. Va.
 
MAC TORUNAMENT RECAP
Despite being picked to finish 10th in the 2025-26 MAC Preseason Poll, Ohio clinched a spot in the 2026 MAC Tournament as the No. 5 seed. The Bobcats opened the tournament with a 89-88 win over No. 4 seed Central Michigan in the quarterfinals. Ohio advanced to the semifinals before ultimately falling to No. 1 seed Miami, 80-52.
 
TABELING NAMED TO 2025-26 ALL-MAC SECOND TEAM
Junior Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.) has been selected to the 2025-26 All-Mid-American Conference Second Team, as announced by the league office on Tuesday, March 10.
 
After another season as one of Ohio's top performers, Tabeling has been named to the All-MAC Second Team. Tabeling started and played in 29 games; accumulating 877 minutes played while averaging 30.2 minutes per game. The junior averaged 14.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game in regular season play. Tabeling finished the regular season shooting 38.4 percent from the field, 31.5 percent from the arc and 75.8 percent from the line.
 
BAILEY TABELING: YEAR THREE
Ohio's standout player Bailey Tabeling is playing her third season with the Bobcats. Tabeling has been a vital player for Ohio's offense since her freshman season. The junior finished her first season (2023-24) with 260 points (8.7 PG); shooting 45.8 percent from the field, 40.9 percent from the arc and 76.1 percent from the line. In her second season (2024-25), Tabeling recorded an impressive 361 points (12.4) and led the team in rebounds, assists and steals.
 
Tabeling is a threat in the paint, at the free throw line and especially beyond the arc. The junior currently leads the team with 450 points (14.5 PG); shooting 39.2 percent from the field, 31.6 percent from the arc and 76.3 percent from the line. Tabeling has recorded 22 double-figure point games this season including five 20-point games and one 30-point game. She has led the team in multiple statistical categories throughout multiple games this season. The junior recently reached 1,000 career points - all while playing at Ohio - with 19 points against Ball State (2/28).
 
BAXTER & MCWHORTER: UNSUNG HEROES
Junior Asiah Baxter and graduate student Aliah McWhorter are among Ohio's top returners from the 2024-25 season. Both players offer the team veteran experience and leadership on the court.
 
Baxter has started and played in all 31 games this season, compiling 835 minutes played (26.9 PG). She has scored 218 points (7.0 PG) this season; shooting 41.7 percent from the field, 34.1 percent from the arc and 74.1 percent from the line. Baxter has compiled 144 rebounds (4.6 PG), 37 assists, 49 steals and six blocks.
 
McWhorter started and played in 29 games, compiling 692 minutes played (23.9 PG). She has scored 224 points (7.7 PG); shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from the arc. McWhorter has also compiled 79 rebounds (2.7 PG), 40 assists, 25 steals and 13 blocks.
 
GARNETT SISTERS, A FAMILY AFFAIR
Graduate student Elli Garnett is capping off her college career in the best way, with her sister as her coach. Elli is the younger sister of former player and current assistant coach, Abby Garnett (2018-2023). Abby is in her second season as an assistant coach at Ohio.
 
Elli joined the Bobcats after previously playing at Nicholls State. During the the 2025-26 season, Elli has been an impactful player for Ohio, bringing veteran experience to the starting lineup. Elli has started and played in 29 games, averaging 22.4 minutes per game. Elli currently has 245 points (8.4 PG), 164 rebounds (5.7), 57 assists, 27 steals and nine blocks.
 
WELCOME BACK, MONICA WILLIAMS
After missing majority of the 2024-25 season due to an injury, redshirt sophomore Monica Williams is back to being a top player for the Bobcats. Williams has played in 29 games, starting in one, and compiled 549 minutes played (18.9 PG). Coming off the bench this season, she has recorded 205 points (7.1 PG), 74 rebounds (2.6 PG), 53 assists, 39 steals and seven blocks. Williams has recorded eight double-figure points games this season. She has led the team in assists in three games and in steals in seven games this season.
 
BELLA RANALLO: FROM CLEMSON TO OHIO
Redshirt sophomore Bella Ranallo joined the Bobcats after spending two seasons at Clemson. Prior to Ohio, Ranallo had only played nine minutes across seven games. Since her arrival to Athens, Ranallo has become a top performer for the Bobcats at the point. She has recorded 324 points (11.2 PG), 87 rebounds (3.0 PG), 43 assists and 56 steals. Ranallo has started and played in 29 games, averaging 25.0 minutes per games.