During its last few games, the Ohio women's basketball team has seen more zones than a DP Dough employee.
Kent played zone and we're going to see a zone next game
too coach Lynn Bria said. If I was playing us and I didn't have a zone I would put one in.
Ohio (7-10 overall, 1-5 Mid-American Conference) hit just 2-of-15 from beyond the arc Wednesday. The Bobcats have struggled with their perimeter shooting throughout the season, Bria said. The team averages more than five 3-pointers per game but converts only 31 percent of its attempts.
The RedHawks (11-6, 5-1 MAC) have implemented a zone defense during much of the season, and allow opponents to hit only 30 percent of their 3-point attempts, the second-best mark in the East Division.
Miami, winner of three straight games, is averaging a conference-best 76.9 points per game this year and better than 80 ppg in MAC contests. Keeping the RedHawks from jumping out to a fast start, much like Kent State did in Wednesday's second half will be key, forward Erin Isbell said.
(Kent State) came out on fire. We can't let (Miami) do that
she said. We just need to get our offense going.
It also is important not to fall off Miami's scoring pace, a fault that plagued Ohio while playing Kent State, forward Latreece Bagley said.
It's tough to chip away when you're down by 20
Bagley said. It's very frustrating. We just need to put two halves together.
Miami is paced by forward Colleen Day's 14.2 points and eight rebounds per game, though the team also boasts four other players who average better than 10 ppg. Each of the RedHawks' top five scorers also holds a spot in the MAC's top 30. No other conference school has more than three players on that list.
In addition to possessing a high-scoring offense, the RedHawks also is a good home team. The team has lost only one game this year at Millett Hall, where the Bobcats have not won since the 1997-98 season.
Ohio will shoot for its first win in Oxford since that overtime triumph nearly six years ago when the Bobcats tip-off with the RedHawks 2 p.m. Saturday.
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Matt LaWell
