The Ohio women's basketball team will rack up some more travel miles this weekend when they head to Dekalb, Ill., for an inter-division showdown against Northern Illinois.
Ohio (6-11, 3-3 Mid-American Conference) has been no stranger to the road this week, coming off a 360-mile bus ride from Kalamazoo after Wednesday's 88-77 loss to Western Michigan. For Saturday's tilt at Northern Illinois (7-10, 3-3 MAC), the Bobcats will make their longest trip in their MAC schedule.
This is definitely the hardest part of our schedule
coach Lynn Bria said. To go to Western Michigan come back and then go out to Northern Illinois is a tough road trip for us.
With many new faces on this season's team, Bria said that the rough stretch will be most valuable to her youngest players.
This is something new for them (the new players)
she said. It's a good experience for us because we're going to have to learn to get tougher and play through it.
The Bobcats are coming off a defensive performance they would like to forget after giving up a season-high 88 points to Western Michigan. Ranked fifth in the MAC in scoring defense since conference play began, Ohio now finds itself ninth after the defensive lapse.
Guard Simone Redd said that she does not see a performance like Wednesday's in the near future.
We are supposed to be known for our tough defense
she said. It was a little disappointing
but we can always bounce back. We have another game to prove ourselves and show what our defense can do.
When preparing its defensive strategy for the Huskies, Ohio will most certainly be watching out for point guard Stephanie Raymond. Raymond is second in the MAC, averaging 17.1 points per game, and her 4.29 assists per game are good for sixth overall.
She can do it all
Redd said. She can drive and shoot
so we'll just have to play stand-up defense and deny her the ball.
The Huskies also get solid contribution in the paint from forward Kristin Wiener, who averages 10.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
We're going to have to play solid defense because of their good inside-outside presence
Bria said. Raymond is definitely the backbone of their offense
but Wiener can definitely hurt you inside if you don't double down on her.
Saturday's tipoff is slated for 3 p.m.
