Last Saturday, Ohio (5-11, 2-4 Mid-American Conference) took on Eastern Michigan in its first home game since the start of the Spring semester. The game ended with a dominant win, giving Ohio its second victory in conference play. Now, the team heads back out on the road — where they remain winless — to take on Central Michigan (3-13, 1-5 MAC).
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the matchup.
Game Information
Opponent: Central Michigan
Time: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Location: McGuirk Arena (Mt. Pleasant, MI)
How to Watch: ESPN+
Follow live stats here.
Meet the Opponent
Head Coach: Kristin Haynie (First Season)
Projected Starters:
#1 Lisa Tesson
#20 Tiana Timpe
#22 Nadedge Jean
#24 Taylor Anderson
#31 Rochelle Norris
Statistical Leaders
Points: Jean (9.4 per game)
Rebounds: Norris (7.9 per game)
Assists: Tesson (2.9 per game)
Steals: Anderson (2.0 per game)
Blocks: Norris (1.6 per game)
Field Goal Percentage: Jean (51.3%)
Three-Point Percentage: Timpe (35.2%)
Free Throw Percentage: Timpe (83.3%)
Central Michigan Notes
With the Bobcats currently sitting at 0-8 on the road this season, the MAC’s last-placed Chippewas give them a decent chance to break the losing streak. Central Michigan is tied with only Akron in terms of in-conference record, sitting at 1-5 apiece. The main reason behind the Chippewas lack of success mid-way through the season is their absence of offensive focal points.
The team’s leading scorer, by points per game, is freshman Tamara Ortiz, who hasn’t been available since the team’s November 25 matchup against Milwaukee. To add insult to injury, Karrington Gordon, the team’s second-leading scorer up until its last matchup against Chicago State, sustained an injury after a harsh fall during the team’s pregame shoot-around and was only able to play two minutes before being sidelined for the rest of the game.
Even lesser than the team’s offense --- which ranks 223rd out of 360 teams --- is their defense, which ranks 316th. There are many factors leading to this number, but many of which have been similar to the Bobcats’ issues in the same area, like relying on heavy rotational minutes from freshmen and undersized positional players.
Player to Watch: Rochelle Norris
Norris provides length and height in the middle for the Chippewas, standing at 6 feet, 5 inches and leading the team in rebounds and blocks. The Bobcats' interior finishing and rebounding have been resounding issues throughout the season, and Norris could likely set the problem on fire in both regards. Norris doesn’t put much pressure on defenses on the other end, mostly finishing plays around the rim with not much set-up of her own, but keeping her off the offensive glass and denying entry passes to the post will be important for the Bobcats' success.
