A historical look at Ohio’s season compared to others in program history.
Earning its 20th win of the season against Miami on Feb. 14, Ohio breached a threshold that hasn’t been crossed since 2008.
The Bobcats, who still have four games left on their schedule, have the opportunity to solidify a No. 1 seed in the Mid-American Conference Tournament and have already defeated each opponent remaining on their schedule this year.
The Post ranked Ohio’s historic 2014-15 season among some of the best in program history:
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10. 1973-74 (10-5)
Coach: Nancy Schaub
Leading scorer: Julie Cole, 17.6 points per game
The inaugural season for the Bobcats. Despite facing Division II opponents such as Ashland (twice), Wittenberg and Wooster, wins against Bowling Green and Kent State solidified Ohio’s program. The Bobcats were led by Julie Cole, who averaged almost 18 points per game.
9. 2006-07 (18-12, 10-6 MAC)
Coach: Sylvia Crawley
Leading scorer: Lauren Kohn, 16.1 points per game
For a team that had nine wins the year before, Crawley swiftly turned the Bobcats around during her first year at the helm. The Bobcats, led by Kohn, defeated Navy in their home opener before eventually being bumped out of the MAC Tournament early by Eastern Michigan.
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8. 1974-75 (12-5)
Coach: Nancy Schaub
Leading scorer: Nancy Thome, 10.1 points per game
Schaub’s second season with Ohio. Despite a lack of conference games, becuase MAC women’s basketball wasn’t established until 1981, two wins against both Cincinnati and Toledo marked the last time Ohio fans saw a successful season until 1982.
7. 1982-83 (15-13, 11-7 MAC)
Coach: Becky Destefano
Leading scorer: Caroline Mast, 17.2 points per game
Following a seven-year era featuring four different head coaches, the Bobcats’ 1982-83 season was considered a breakout year. Ohio won five straight conference games, including a double-overtime win in Bowling Green. The streak helped the Bobcats receive their first MAC Tournament berth in program history.
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6. 1993-94 (17-10, 13-5 MAC)
Coach: Marsha Reall
Leading scorer: Holly Skeen, 15.6 points per game
At this point in program history, Skeen was well established among the Bobcats’ diverse scorers. From 1991-98, Ohio had a different leading scorer every season. It was a middle-of-the-road season, when comparing the rest of coach Reall’s career, as Ohio lost to Western Michigan in the first round of the MAC Tournament.
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5. 1997-98 (17-11, 13-5 MAC)
Coach: Marsha Reall
Leading scorer: Marlene Stollings, 22.9 points per game
The last hoorah for Reall — the program’s winningest coach. Ohio played tough opponents including then-No. 15 Duke and Purdue before losing to Kent State in the second round of the MAC Tournament. This marked the last season the Bobcats had more than 15 wins until Crawley took over in 2006.
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4. 2007-08 (20-13, 10-6 MAC)
Coach: Sylvia Crawley
Leading scorer: Lauren Kohn, 15.6 points per game
Before Bob Boldon, there was Crawley. Between 2006 and 2008, Ohio went 38-25 and finally reached the MAC Championship in 2008. It was a double-overtime win against Bowling Green that got Ohio there, but Crawley and the Bobcats would eventually fall to Miami the next day.
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3. 2014-15 (21-4, 12-2 MAC)*
Coach: Bob Boldon
Leading scorer: Kiyanna Black,15.7 points per game
The ranking is subject to change as the season progresses, but Ohio is already having a historic year. Boldon has revitalized a program that won just 15 games in two seasons and is now on the cusp of earning a No. 1 seed in the MAC Tournament. The Bobcats could finish with the second-best record in program history, as Ohio has an easy schedule moving forward. Its upcoming opponents have a .333 combined winning percentage.
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2. 1994-95 (23-7, 15-3 MAC)
Coach Marsha Reall
Leading scorer: Molly Sitto, 15.3 points per game
One of just two teams to ever make the NCAA Tournament, Reall’s 1994-95 season was her best. Led by Molly Sitto, Ohio was upset in the MAC Tournament by Miami before getting an at-large bid to play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in almost a decade. Ohio has not made the tournament since.
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1. 1985-86 (26-3, 16-2 MAC)
Coach: Amy Prichard
Leading scorer: Caroline Mast, 23.0 points per game
The greatest season in program history thus far. After going just 11-16 the year before, All-American Caroline Mast led the Bobcats to a MAC Championship win over Central Michigan and their first NCAA bid in program history. Ohio would eventually lose to Illinois by a single point (69-68), but its 26 season wins is still a school record.
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