The Ohio women's basketball team, now 5-5 in the Mid-American Conference and lurking in the middle of its division, will try to jump above .500 in the MAC tomorrow night at Toledo.
We just hope we don't get snowed in like we did last year
coach Lynn Bria said.
For the Bobcats, who, with two straight losses, are slumping as they get more entrenched in the MAC season, getting snowed in may be the least of their worries.
Finding a reliable starting lineup to stick with may be the most of them.
After quality performances off the bench by freshmen Quintana Ward and Simone Redd nearly dissipated a Marshall lead Wednesday, Bria considered an adjustment.
Simone Redd could be starting; we've got to look at that she said. The five best players should start.
Though Bria couldn't say who the five best were at the time, she hinted at increasing minutes for her freshman standouts.
Angel Hornsburger, still playing with a large knee brace, was practically void of statistics against the Thundering Herd. In 25 minutes of play, her three turnovers outweighed her two assists and zero points.
But no matter what the starting lineup is, the Bobcats will assuredly have their hands full against the Rockets. Since the beginning of the MAC season, Toledo has produced two players, Danielle Bishop and Karin Hoogendam, who are both in the top 15 in MAC scoring. The sophomore-senior combination is a forceful inside-outside pair that has led the Rockets all season.
It will take what Marshall coach Royce Chadwick called putting that token pressure on to contain the duo. The Bobcats have played go-for-broke defense all season. When it collapses, it gets them into trouble, but when it's executed correctly, it can change the complexion of a game.
The game against Marshall exhibited an Ohio team that was completely out of sync offensively Bria said.
The Bobcats will have to realign their offense to give the Rockets a run for their money.
We're just taking it one game at a time
Ward said.
When the team travels to the northernmost part of Ohio, where temperatures are a little lower, the Bobcats' shooting will have to be a little warmer than the environment.
Ohio will try to ice the Rockets starting tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Toledo's Savage Hall.
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Patrick Bourland
