Finding a lineup that works has been trouble of late for the Ohio women's basketball team, with usually reliable players finding themselves on the bench.
During Saturday's 70-65 loss to Toledo, senior forwards Kristian Kirkpatrick and Erin Isbell, who lead the team in scoring and rebounding, respectively, didn't start.
The last couple of games
we hadn't gotten a lot out of Kris and Erin coach Lynn Bria said. They turned the ball over a lot. I just felt like we needed to switch it up and give somebody else a shot and see if it would help us with regard to our overall execution.
It didn't.
It seemed to only exacerbate the funk that Kirkpatrick has found herself in lately. After coming off the bench, she didn't score until late in the second half.
Isbell, however, did find her rhythm when she entered the game. With 10 points and 10 rebounds, she posted her third double-double of the season, which leapfrogged her to fourth on Ohio's all-time rebound list. But her help, coupled with the scoring of guard Simone Redd and the auxiliary 3-point shooting of guard Tiffany Byrd, was not enough to secure a road win.
Down by double figures at more than one point in the second half, the Bobcats (9-13 overall, 5-6 Mid-American Conference) never got closer than five. Quick blitzkriegs by Ohio kept the game interesting and within reach. But after each burst, momentum was stolen by mistakes and responses by Toledo (11-11, 7-4 MAC).
I thought overall we did some things very well Bria said. Playing Toledo within five or six points is good for us. We just have to take better care of the basketball.
She sent the message loud and clear to point guards Angel Hornsburger and Quintana Ward, benching them simultaneously for several minutes in the second half.
I didn't like the decisions they were making
Bria said. They were trying to force it
and you can't force it if it's not open.
Redd, normally a shooting guard, was forced to run the offense.
I thought she did a good job
but that's not her primary position
Bria said.
Toledo tried its best to assist the Ohio comeback, but four straight Rocket turnovers late in the game -three of which were steals by forward Andrea Johnson -weren't enough.
Toledo guard Crystal Young led all scorers with 13, scoring 10 in the first half, accounting for the difference in the 40-30 lead the Rockets took to the locker room.
With the loss, the Bobcats continued its chronic road woes; they are now 2-9 away from The Convo this season. Toledo might be one of the most hostile road environments for Ohio, which has now lost 15 straight at Savage Hall.
This week, the MAC season will continue to wind down as the Bobcats try to get two wins at home against Akron and Northern Illinois.
-Patrick Bourland
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