The last time Akron won a women's basketball game in The Convo, The Simpsons was debuting on television and many current college students were being conceived.
Twenty-two years ago, the Zips managed a scrappy win in Athens just before the dawn of 1988. Since then, the Bobcats have held a decided edge in the series, winning 32 of 42 games all-time.
But although the Mid-American Conference rivals haven't endured a highly competitive series up to this point, tonight's storyline between the two is a team trying to continue its conference roll, and the other team attempting to start one of its own.
Ohio (4-13, 0-4 MAC) has been through its share of hardships over the season's first 17 games and has deviated from its normally stout defensive system.
Each of the Bobcats' conference opponents has shot more than 40 percent from the field, while Ohio is hard-pressed to get its own two top scorers on a roll.
Guards Jenny Poff and Jennifer Bushby are key cogs in the Ohio offense, but their personal slumps are minimal in the current state of affairs.
Coach Semeka Randall said she is concerned about the lack of offense from the two, but continued to point out her team's defensive labors and ongoing troubles in the opening minutes.
Though the team has played incrementally better in the closing halves of games, Randall and her staff are working to get a better 40-minute effort.
Right now
we're understanding how to play a half of basketball Randall said. We want our defense to be what ignites our offense.
These are intelligent ladies that can take in a lot of information. Now, we need them to take it out on the floor.
Always a physical group the Zips (9-8
3-1 MAC) enter tonight's game having won their last three conference games.
Kara Murphy
one of three Akron shooters to average at least 10 points per game
represents another strong test for the Bobcats' defense.
Last year
she led the conference in scoring and is averaging nearly 15 points per game this season.
(Murphy) always wants the ball, Randall said. She is going at you to make plays and score, and that's how she gets to the line.
The Bobcats have run a lot of up-tempo drills in practice this week to get off to better starts
Randall said.
They have allowed 15-plus point runs in two of their last three games and allowed Buffalo to race to a 12-2 lead barely three minutes in.
We can work on all of this stuff in practice, Randall said. But eventually it has to transfer (to games).",",2,Sports,Rob Mixer,30250b.jpg,",",",",","
30249,2010-01-20 00:20:00,Local man accused of molesting 9-year-old daughter
faces 21 years,A local man accused of molesting his 9-year-old daughter will remain in jail until his court date unless he pays $100
000 bail.,A local man accused of molesting his 9-year-old daughter will remain in jail until his court date unless he pays $100
000 bail.
Billy J. Darby
