Ohio has had many challenges this season, with problems ranging from postponements to player absences hindering its performance. But in Saturday’s 80-73 loss to Western Michigan, those challenges proved to be too much.
The Bobcats (11-9, 5-6 Mid-American Conference) entered the game in the midst of a slump and without one of their scoring juggernauts. They were operating without Cece Hooks, who sustained an injury earlier in the week that kept her out of commission for Saturday’s contest.
Ohio was already playing shorthanded. Its roster has been plagued by injury, and starters Kaylee Bambule and Gabby Burris had just returned to the lineup from COVID-19 protocols. Ohio had to play one of the stronger teams in the MAC without one of its best players.
For about 35 minutes, it looked as if the Bobcats would be able to overcome all that adversity, but they ran out of gas and were outscored 15-6 over the last five minutes.
To add to Ohio’s end-of-game struggles, Erica Johnson fouled out with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter. Ohio’s fate was sealed.
The Bobcats also struggled from 3-point range, shooting just 4-of-22 from beyond the arc. Their long distance issues were only exacerbated by the Broncos' completing 14-of-32 from 3-point range. Half of the Broncos’ 3s came from Lauren Ross, who totaled 37 points and was 7-of-11 from downtown.
Ohio had trouble keeping track of Western Michigan’s shooters, Ross in particular, all night. This led to plenty of open 3s, and Ohio coach Bob Boldon knew exactly where the issue stemmed from.
“I thought off the ball (defense) was a disaster,” Boldon said. “We can’t guard them. I just hope we don’t have to play them again.”
Many of the problems that Ohio suffered from when it first lost to Western Michigan (13-9, 7-6 MAC) in late January were present again. Western Michigan rained 3s in The Convo just as it had in Kalamazoo, Michigan, when it shot 15-of-35 from beyond the arc.
Ohio has struggled defensively all season, and losing Hooks, the three-time MAC Defensive Player of the Year, did not help.
Despite the best efforts of Yaya Felder, who played one of her strongest games of the season, the Bobcats were unable to withstand the Broncos’ onslaught. Felder matched her career-highs in points, rebounds and steals with 16, nine and five respectively, as well as setting a new career high with three blocks.
The Bobcats have dealt with plenty of adversity this season. While it seemed for much of Saturday that they could overcome the loss of Hooks, it proved to be too much.
Saturday’s loss has dropped Ohio to ninth in the MAC standings, which is one spot outside of where they need to finish in order to qualify for the MAC Tournament. Even with all of the off-court issues Ohio has dealt with, missing the MAC Tournament, which now seems like a strong possibility, would constitute an utter failure.
Ohio was picked to finish first in the MAC in the regular season and received more votes to win the MAC Tournament than any team aside from Buffalo. With eight games remaining in the regular season, the Bobcats are on the outside looking in. Unless Hooks returns soon, if she ever does, they might stay there.
