The similarities between Ohio and Ball State begin with scoring margin and continue with conference record.
Ohio scores 59.5 points per game while surrendering 61.9 points a game. Ball State scores 58.4 points a game while giving up 65 points.
Both teams also enter tomorrow’s contest at The Convo with a 3-7 record in the Mid-American Conference.
Differentiating from the opposition comes down to intangibles and the character of a team.
“We’re going to have match their intensity,” Ohio coach Semeka Randall said. “They do a real good job of defending. We are really going to have to work for our offense.”
The Bobcats (10-14, 3-7 Mid-American Conference) have been inconsistent on offense so far this season. Ohio has scored as many as 80 points but as few as 33 points in games this season.
Junior guard Ashley Fowler said the offense needs to shoot like it did earlier this season against Western Michigan when the Bobcats put up 72 points.
“We just need to play our game, make sure we box out and rebound and make sure they don’t get a lot of shots off.” Fowler said. “Score a ton of baskets. Pretty much going back to how we played in the Western game.”
Ohio has faced a proven scorer in almost every game this season, but the Cardinals (8-15, 3-7 MAC) feature a more balanced scoring attack. No player averages in double figures.
Ball State is led by freshman Jazmin Hitchens, who averages 9.5 points per game.
Randall said she is hopeful that the Bobcats will exploit the inexperience of the youth-laden roster the Cardinals possess. The team has eight underclassmen on the roster.
The Bobcats will be out to make sure no Ball State shooter has a career night.
“Just know personnel,” Fowler said. “Get out on their shooters and contest their shots and not let their big players get points on the inside.”
Ball State players distribute more than 13 assists per game. Fowler said that disrupting passing lanes is the foundation of Ohio’s defense.
“We get our energy from being up in the passing lanes, stopping the balls. That’s very key for us,” Fowler said.
Ohio is third in the conference in turnover margin, forcing nearly 20 per game.
After playing three of the past four games on the road, Randall said that her team is happy to be home. Ohio’s 8-5 record at home reflects that the team likes to play in front of the hometown crowd.
“I know it’s always difficult to get ready for the road and get up for games like this,” Randall said. “Hopefully our kids will be ready to go…for us to protect our home court, we got energy and an opportunity for us to sleep in our own beds.”
nr225008@ohiou.edu
