The number three holds different meanings to Jenny Poff.
Dwyane Wade, her favorite player, wears the number, and her mother's favorite number is three.
When Poff came to Ohio, she decided to wear it.
When I left Michigan State
I kind of wanted to start over she said. I didn't want to be 14 again. I didn't have another number so I was like
'I'll go with my mom's number - three.'
And there's the number of points Poff earns when she lofts one up from behind the arc on the court.
The junior guard from St. John's, Mich., has made 51 3-pointers so far this season, equaling her total from last year, and is third in the Mid-American Conference.
Poff is shooting 37 percent from long range, 12th best in the conference.
And that's not all.
She is quickly climbing up the record books for 3-pointers made in a career.
In less than two seasons with Ohio, Poff has made 102 3-pointers, tying her for fifth in Ohio women's basketball history. She is only two away from tying Quintana Ward, who graduated last year, for fourth all-time.
Her production inside the arc is actually worse than from outside. She is shooting 29 of 80 for 36.3 percent in two-point field goals, something that coach Semeka Randall has noticed.
Still, her success from beyond the arc is extremely helpful to her team.
It opens up the middle for us
in terms of you've got somebody who can knock the shot down consistently
Randall said. (Her shooting) means a lot.
Other teams in the MAC have noticed her shooting prowess.
Opposing teams know where Poff is on the court every time the Bobcats are on offense. Whether it's the coach or the players, there is usually more than one person calling out, Shooter!
Poff considers it a compliment.
Coach has always said when people are out there screaming
'Shooter
shooter'
that's a good sign
Poff said. They have taken notice.
Odds are Western Michigan will be keeping an eye out during tonight's game.
The Broncos are second-worst in the conference in 3-point field goal defense, allowing their opponents to shoot 36.6 percent from beyond the arc. The Broncos have also put up one of the worst scoring margins in the MAC (-7.2).
Their senior point guard, Tiera DeLaHoussaye, leads the Broncos. She averages 13.4 points per game, 4.6 assists and 2.5 steals.
Randall said that the Bobcats must respect DeLaHoussaye.
She's lightning quick
Randall said. You've got to really contain her in the transition part of (the game) because she can get to the basket.
The Bobcats will guard DeLaHoussaye by committee, but Poff will start on her defensively.
It's going to come down to defensive stops
