Ohio has faced some tough challenges this season, but none are more difficult than the one they face now. Not only do the Bobcats have to get over a crucial loss to Miami in which they lost their bye, they also have to attempt to do something that has never been done before.
Nobody said it was easy
Since the Mid-American Conference moved its tournament to the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, no team that has failed to get a bye has won the tournament.But there have been some close calls.Buffalo made it to the finals in 2005 as the seven-seed. Toledo made it in 2006 also as a seven-seed. Miami made it in 2000 as the nine-seed and again in 2001 without a bye.
We Meet Again
Earlier this season the Bobcats took on the Chippewas in Mount Pleasant, Mich., and won 71-64.Lauren Kohn led Ohio with 22 points and four steals.
Scouting the Chippewas
Central Michigan is just 6-22 (2-13 MAC) on the season and is riding a four-game losing streak. The Chippewas are 2-8 against the Bobcats in their last 10 meetings. They are the worst defensive team in the league, giving up an average of 74.5 points per game. Their minus-8.1 scoring margin is second worst in the league.One of the key factors in the game will be if Ohio can limit its turnovers. Turnovers proved costly in its last game of the season against Miami, which the Bobcats lost 82-72 in overtime. Central Michigan is No. 2 in the conference in steals per game at 10.21. Ohio averages 19 turnovers a game, which is fourth worst in the MAC.Britni Houghton is just a sophomore, but she is already Central Michigan's best player. Houghton is the team's leading scorer at 12.8 points per game and second on the team in rebounds with 5.8 a game.
Deja vu All Over Again
Last year as the East Division's third seed, Ohio faced the sixth seed from the West Division, Central Michigan, in the first round of the tournament and won 55-51.In fact, this will be the fourth straight season that the Bobcats have played Central Michigan in the first round. Ohio has won the previous three. In 2006 and 2007 after beating the Chippewas, the Bobcats went on to suffer a loss at the hands of Eastern Michigan. If Ohio wins on Sunday they play, you guessed it, Eastern Michigan, which is the No. 2 seed in the West Division.
Ohio in the tournament
The Bobcats are just 9-18 in the Mid-American Conference tournament since it began in 1982-83. The one and only time that the Bobcats have won the whole thing was in 1986 when they beat Central Michigan, 92-85, in overtime.
Also on Sunday
West Division number three seed Western Michigan takes on the sixth seed from the East, Akron, at 9 p.m.
17 Archives
Michelle Munoz
7 p.m. Sunday, Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
