As the losing streak has hit a record high, Ohio hopes to finally turn the page Saturday against Western Michigan and earn its first win of the season in Mid-American Conference play.
The Bobcats (5-17, 0-10 MAC) set a program record last Saturday with their 10th consecutive loss, despite cutting an 18-point deficit to just two points in the final minute against Eastern Michigan.
Junior guard Erin Bailes paced Ohio, offensively, with 19 points, highlighted by a game-high five three-pointers. Although she has upped her game throughout the losing streak, the sharpshooter said it has not been easy.
“We need to get a scorer in there and that’s what I’ve done all my life is shoot, so Saturday was good to happen,” Bailes said. “(The losing streak) sucks, but we are just trying to take it one game at a time and slowly get out of it.”
Ohio enters Saturday with an RPI ranking of 313 out of 345 teams, as the Bobcats are the only MAC team that remains winless in conference play.
However, Ohio has lost two of its past three games by less than 10 points after dropping each of its first seven MAC games by at least 19 points per contest.
Western Michigan (8-15, 4-6 MAC) has endured struggles of its own throughout conference play, but has won two consecutive games, including a one-point win against Bowling Green — the second best team in the MAC East.
Sophomore Marquisha Harris and freshman Miracle Woods, both forwards, lead the Broncos, each averaging eight points and five rebounds per game.
In addition to the forward duo, Ohio coach Semeka Randall said the Bobcats will attempt to contain the Western Michigan guards, as the Broncos tend to play five guards at a time.
“We have to guard dribble penetration,” Randall said. “Western Michigan did a really good job penetrating against Bowling Green, so we really need to contain the inside when they play five guards.”
The Bobcats and Broncos rank among the bottom four teams in scoring offense and defense, as well as field goal and three-point percentage.
Ohio has won each of the past two meetings against Western Michigan, after defeating the Broncos 72-59 last season, when junior guard Shavon Robinson tied her career-high 22 points.
Having played four games since returning from injury, Robinson has accepted a role as a reserve, despite starting every game prior to being sidelined for injury.
“I’m getting a lot more confident with my ankle and making lateral movements side-to-side, but it took a few games getting back,” Robinson said. “(Coming off the bench) is kind of the same as being a starter; when I hear my name called I’m ready to come in and get to see the flow of the game on the bench.”
Robinson also said a key to ending the streak was playing hard in the second half, as Ohio has not out-scored its opponent in the second half since beginning MAC play.
UP-NEXT:
Who: Western Michigan (8-15, 4-6 MAC) at Ohio (5-17, 0-10 MAC)
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
When: The Convo
— Ohio has lost a program-record 10 consecutive games.
— The Bobcats have an RPI ranking of 313 out of 345 schools.
— Western Michigan has won its past two games, overall.
cl027410@ohiou.edu
