After extending its Mid-American Conference winning streak to its longest mark in three seasons, Ohio is looking to stay hot and win a fourth-consecutive game against Ball State on Saturday.
The Convo has been a fortress for the Bobcats (8-7, 3-1 MAC) this season, as they are 4-0 inside the friendly confines. The win would mark the first time since the 2007-08 season that the team has won four-straight in conference play.
“Home has been very good to us,” coach Bob Boldon said following Ohio’s win on Wednesday. “Ball State is a very well-coached team; they’re a great disciplined team.”
Natalie Fontaine, a sophomore guard who averages 16 points and seven rebounds leads the Cardinals (7-8, 2-2 MAC). Junior guard Brittany Carter is another impact scorer, averaging 14 points per contest, making guard Jill Morrison the third member that also averages double digits with 10 points.
“They’re gonna play us very similar to how Kent State played us,” Boldon said. “(The Golden Flashes) were willing to give us threes to take points away in the paint.”
Ohio gambles every game by living off the three-pointer. Against Kent State, they opened up the first half shooting 20 percent from behind the arc. In the second half, the Bobcats got hot, and proceeded to shoot 63 percent as they rolled past the Golden Flashes.
So far this season, Ohio has averaged 83 points per home game, including a pair of games when they scored 94 and 97 against Xavier and Miami, respectively.
However, the Bobcats are still lacking in size.
On average, they are being out-rebounded by five boards per game and depending on how many minute4s she plays, Renee Bennett, a six-foot-five Cardinal, will tower over the Ohio forwards.
Defensively, Ohio has consistently swiped the ball from opponents, with 142 steals an average of almost ten per game. Boldon said that the key to success lately has been the Bobcats getting in the right places defensively to make a play. When they don’t, the personal fouls start to rack up.
But more importantly, after playing the majority of its games on the road, Ohio can now play on its home floor.
“It’ll be interesting,” Boldon said. “Everybody on our team is excited to be back at The Convo on Saturday afternoon.”
@charliehatch_
gh181212@ohiou.edu
