Amid its early-season offensive woes, Ohio is being forced to construct a new approach, as scoring droughts and ineffective shooting have steered the Bobcats into a five-game losing streak.
The team’s offensive unit has struggled throughout the streak, most notably when the starting rotation scored just 10 points in Sunday’s 65-53 loss to Detroit, in which the Bobcats also shot a mere 30 percent from the field.
“We should be to the point where we are sick and tired of coming up with the same results, in terms of losing,” Ohio coach Semeka Randall said. “Our attitude has to change, our mindsets have to change and we need to go back to the basics and fundamentals in order to be successful.”
With 10:07 remaining in the first half against Detroit, the Bobcats led the Titans 24-17 and appeared to be on their way to their first win since the season-opener. But Ohio then went scoreless for almost nine minutes, during which it allowed Detroit to battle back into the game. The Titans ended the half on an 18-3 run.
During the drought, Ohio shot the ball 15 times, but was not successful on any of its attempts.
With the Bobcats having converted only 32 percent of their shots on the season, Randall wants her team to be more focused and choose to take good shots.
“To avoid these droughts, we need to shoot more,” Randall said. “These kids all shot the ball well in high school and know how to shoot, so it’s more of a mental game than anything and the answer is to get in the gym and shoot.”
The starting rotation scored 61 percent of Ohio’s points through the first six games, but three of the team’s top five scorers are bench players who continue to progress in each game.
Freshman guard Kiyanna Black has recorded performances off the bench of 21 and 15 points in the Bobcats’ past two games, which are both higher point totals than any starter in both contests. Junior guard Erin Bailes has also fueled the offense with seven points per game as a reserve.
Randall said that she plans to shake up in the starting rotation in order to spark faster starts to games and stimulate success on offense.
“As a whole, we have to get better. It’s time to rethink what we’re doing,” Randall said. “In the first four minutes of a game, we are not getting what we need from our starters. When you’re starting, it’s more of a reward, but we have to win games.”
Although the offensive woes are continuing to hinder the Bobcats, turnovers have significantly improved since the beginning of the season.
After committing at least 19 turnovers in each of its first four games, Ohio has turned the ball over just 20 times in the past two games combined, including a season-low of seven Sunday.
With half of its nonconference schedule completed, Ohio is anxious to figure out an effective game plan before beginning Mid-American Conference play in January.
cl027410@ohiou.edu
