Conference play has never looked so good for the Ohio women's basketball team.
The Bobcats should be battle-tested after finishing their grueling non-conference schedule that has left the team with a 3-8 record heading into Mid-American Conference play. Coach Lynn Bria said that a couple more wins would have been nice, but she is pleased with the improvement she has seen.
You're always going to want more wins
Bria said. The main thing though is that we keep getting better.
Ohio had its strongest showing of the break Dec. 22 at Cleveland State when they knocked off the Vikings 76-64. The win would be the first collected on the road this season for the Bobcats and the 12-point margin of victory the largest.
Cleveland native Simone Redd failed to disappoint in her return to her hometown by leading all scorers with a season-high 26 points. Her best game of the season thus far garnered more than just a pat on the back as she was named MAC Player of the Week a few days later.
Redd said she had looked forward to coming back and playing in her hometown.
I'd been waiting for this game ever since I saw it on the schedule
Redd said. It's always good to play in front of your friends and family and to see the city you grew up in for the first time in a while. It was just great.
Upstart freshman Rachel Frederick continued her strong start by adding 25 points in the romp. The guard leads the team in rebounds per game with 6.9 and is second behind Redd in points per game with 14.5.
Bria said that Frederick does not resemble a freshman on the court.
I don't think she plays like a freshman at all
she said. She's yet to have a bad game. I'm not saying that there haven't been times where she couldn't score for us
but she just does so many things off the ball that help us - she's always contributing.
Frederick said that her early success has not come quite as easy as it has appeared, and each game brings a new challenge.
There have been some games that have been easier than others
but I'm just taking one game at a time. It's been a big adjustment
but I'm enjoying it
she said.
Ohio kicks off conference play at home Sunday when Kent State comes to town. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. in The Convo.
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