After an encouraging 63-56 victory against Cleveland State in the season opener, Ohio is off to the Land of 10,000 Lakes to play the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the Subway Classic.
For Ohio senior forward Tina Fisher, the trip will be a homecoming of sorts. Fisher grew up in Cottage Grove, Minn., a mere 21 miles away from Minnesota’s campus.
“I think the atmosphere is going to be really good. I know they usually get a pretty good crowd, and I have a bunch of people from my family and people that know me coming,” Fisher said.
Ohio will have its hands full against the Golden Gophers, who were 15-4 at home this past season.
Sophomore guard Rachel Banham was Big Ten freshman of the year and is a point of emphasis for Ohio’s defense.
“The biggest thing with a kid like thProxy-Connection: keep-alive Cache-Control: max-age=0 is trying to contain her,” Ohio coach Semeka Randall said. “So you’re not going to totally shut her down, because she takes a lot of shots.”
Junior guard Erin Bailes will be available for the first time this season and will team up with sophomore guard Mariah Byard to try and contain Banham.
Since both are shooting guards and scoring threats, the point guard position does not come naturally. Byard has been forced to play the point because of Kat Yelle’s injury last year.
Ohio opened the season with a win for the first time since 2008, and the Bobcats are more than happy to start the season off on the right foot.
“It almost brings a sense of energy,” Fisher said. “Confidence plays into energy, and it makes you ready for the next game, instead of doubting yourself.”
Ohio will need both confidence and energy to beat Minnesota in the Subway Classic.
“The biggest thing about going into somebody’s house and trying to steal a game is that you’re going to have to rely on playing 40 minutes of focused basketball,” Randall said.
Two freshmen, Lexie Baldwin and Kiyanna Black, have offered immediate help to Ohio’s depleted roster.
“They’re going to understand what physicality is,” said Randall. “That’s what Minnesota brings to the game: They’re a lot bigger. Once they (the freshmen) get past that atmosphere and environment, they just have to play basketball.”
If Ohio defeats Minnesota on Saturday in the Subway Classic, the Bobcats will play in the championship game Sunday. If Ohio loses, they will play in the consolation game against the winner of Maine and UNLV game.
“(A win against Minnesota) would be great. It would almost be like the game last year against Bowling Green when we beat them,” said junior guard Shavon Robinson. “We felt like we won the MAC Championship after we beat them.”
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