The path only gets tougher for the Ohio women's basketball team.
Still looking for their first conference win, the Bobcats go on the road Saturday to face Northern Illinois, the first in a stretch of five out of six games the Bobcats will play outside Athens.
The Bobcats (6-7 overall, 0-2 Mid-American Conference) entered last Saturday's conference opener against Marshall with its best opening record in nearly a decade, but the Thundering Herd brought Ohio back down with a 23-point victory in The Convo. An Andrea Gay 3-point attempt at the buzzer fell just short Tuesday, keeping Ohio from a chance to defeat Ball State for the first time in six seasons.
It's early in the conference season
so I'm not discouraged Ohio coach Lynn Bria said. We have a lot of games left and I think we just have to steal some on the road.
Ohio is 2-3 on the road this season and has a 2-0 mark on a neutral floor.
A long bus trip to DeKalb, Ill., followed by trips to Akron, Kent State, Miami and Central Michigan will not make Ohio's attempt to pick up conference wins any easier.
It's tougher on the road
Bria said. It's tougher
but not impossible.
Forward Erin Isbell said it takes more strong mentality to win on the road.
It's tiring more than anything
Isbell said. But you just have to be tough and push through and try not to give excuses.
In the loss to Ball State, Isbell recorded her third double-double in the last four contests. She said it is important not to dwell on the home court advantage, rather to simply play the game.
We just go out there and play and just try to steal it
she said. We try not to listen to their fans or the band - those are the only other extra things when you play away.
Bria said Ohio matches up well against Northern Illinois (6-8, 1-2 MAC), but the Bobcats must ultimately block out and control the glass to come away with a win.
We have got to control the rebounding to control the tempo
Bria said. The tempo is so important to us.
After a hot start followed by back-to-back conference hiccups, the Bobcats have remained positive.
As long as we keep practicing hard everyday and doing our drills everyday
we're still going to have that confidence
guard Andrea Johnson said.
While it registered as a check in the loss column, Bria said Ohio's performance against Ball State could turn into victories in the coming games, beginning with Northern Illinois on Saturday.
It's one that I certainly think we have the chance to steal if we keep playing like this.
Ohio and Northern Illinois will meet Saturday. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. in DeKalb, Ill.
