Thursday marked the second consecutive day that the Ohio women’s basketball team suffered a crucial blow.
Junior forward Porsha Harris’ ejection in Wednesday’s loss against Central Michigan was a result of a couple of quick jabs, but her two-game suspension from the conference was the equivalent of a haymaker for the Bobcats.
Both Ohio Athletics and the Mid-American Conference issued statements Thursday that outlined suspensions for Harris and three Central Michigan players.
The penalties were consistent across the board, as the Chippewas’ Jas’Mine Bracey, Crystal Bradford and Jessica Green will have to wait two games to return to action.
All suspensions came from the MAC, and each team could hand down additional consequences.
The incident is a black eye for Ohio (9-12), which has gone 2-5 since the beginning of January.
“On behalf of the women’s basketball program at Ohio University, I would like to apologize for the behavior that took place in our Jan. 25 game against Central Michigan,” Ohio coach Semeka Randall said in a statement. “Being the leader of this team, it is very disappointing to see one of my players lose composure during a game.”
The team will travel to Kalamazoo this weekend for a Saturday bout with Western Michigan. The Broncos (5-15, 2-5 MAC) have dropped five straight and eight of their last 10.
Getting back on the bus for the team’s second road trip of the week will give it an opportunity to put the altercation in the rearview mirror. But the stigma from Wednesday’s loss will be evident in Harris’ absence from the floor.
“The behavior of the involved student-athletes was unacceptable and has no place in basketball,” MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said in a statement.
He also praised both teams’ coaching staffs for stepping in and keeping the violence to a minimum when, midway through Wednesday’s first half, Harris and Bracey ignited the altercation.
“It saddens me that we lost our cool in the midst of the game. This is a very serious matter and it will be dealt with,” Randall said in the statement. “The league has made its decision and we plan on moving forward from this and preparing for our upcoming game against Western Michigan.”
jr992810@ohiou.edu
