When the Ohio women's basketball team travels on the road, they remember everything from their jersies to their shoes, but they forget one thing: their game.
The Bobcats have had a trying time this season on the road, going 2-8 away from The Convo. Why this has happened might be unanswerable even for coaches and players. I'm not really sure why we haven't done well on the road
coach Lynn Bria said. Everything is so mental and we just have not been able to get over the hump.
Ohio (11-14 overall, 7-7 Mid-American Conference) continued its road woes Wednesday night with a 74-39 loss at Kent State. The Bobcats had beaten Kent State 56-50 in their first MAC game of the season. The advantage for Ohio during the first game? Playing at home in The Convo.
It is definitely frustrating to us as a team and I am sure to the coaches
as well
forward Erin Isbell said. We always know that road games are tough because no team is going to give up their home floor without a fight. We just have seemed to fall short.
With a 9-3 home record, the team has proved it knows how to protect its territory. Its home record won't help Ohio Saturday, though, as the team finishes its road stretch against Ball State (13-12, 9-5 MAC).
Ball State is on a two-game winning streak, beating Toledo, 81-60, Wednesday night and is currently third in the MAC West Division. With the Bobcats' loss against Kent State, the team fell to fourth in the MAC East Division.
To pull off a win on the Cardinals' court, guard Simone Redd will need to continue the type of play seen from her in the last several games.
Redd is very versatile
being able to shoot the 3
get to the basket
shoot the pull-up jumper and even run the point position if needed
Isbell said.
The guard has led Ohio offensively in several of its last games, including the team's win against Northern Illinois in which she scored 26 points. The freshman leads the team in points and minutes per game with 10.9 and 24.2, respectively.
Redd has improved in every area of the game
both ends of the floor
Bria said. She brings scoring to the team and will only continue to better herself.
Ohio will need to bring its A game for its final regular season road game at 3 p.m. Saturday at Ball State.
--Abbey Smith
