Ohio returns home Saturday to face Mid-American Conference West Division opponent Ball State. The Bobcats are looking for a win after losing to Western Michigan in the final seconds on the road Wednesday.
The Bobcats (9-6, 2-1 MAC) should be pleased to see the Cardinals on the schedule, as they have traditionally beaten this team. Coach Bob Boldon is 7-1 in his career against Ball State.
Here is everything you need to know for Wednesday’s game:
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: Ball State (11-5, 3-1 MAC)
Game time: 1 p.m.
Place: The Convo
Where to watch: ESPN3
How to listen: Ohio IMG Network
MEET THE OPPONENT
Head Coach: Brady Sallee (Eighth season)
Probable starters
32 Oshlynn Brown
11 Sydney Freeman
21 Blake Smith
24 Jasmin Samz
10 Thelma Dis Agustsdottir
Reserves
42 Annie Rauch
30 Anna Clephane
00 Arbie Benson
13 Anna Gamarra
01 Abi Haynes
INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS
Points per game: Brown (12.8)
Rebounds per game: Brown (9.5)
Steals: Brown (22)
Field goal percentage: Rauch (.507)
3-point percentage (minimum 10 attempts): Gamarra (.400)
Free throw percentage: Dis Agustsdottir (.900)
TEAMS STATS COMPARED TO OHIO
*Ohio’s stats are in parenthesis
Points per game: 66.3 (70.6)
Rebounds per game: 41 (35.2)
Steals: 7.3 (11.3)
Field goal percentage: .408 (.400)
3-point percentage: .337 (.325)
Free throw percentage: .607 (.631)
SERIES HISTORY
Bolden has only lost to the Cardinals once in his career — his first matchup with them in 2014. Since then, the Bobcats have won the last seven games over Ball State. Last season Ohio won both games by margins of 15 and 32. It has also dominated the series all-time with a 36-27 record against the Cardinals.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brown is clearly Ball State’s biggest weapon. The Chillicothe native leads the team in points, rebounds and steals and will likely go against Gabby Burris, who has been quiet in the last three games, scoring fewer than 10 points in each matchup. This is the longest Burris has gone this season without reaching double-digit points, so she is poised for a big game.
WHY DOES THIS GAME MATTER?
Ohio needs to bounce back and reassert its dominance over teams in the MAC it has traditionally beat. After a loss to Western Michigan, the Bobcats are looking for a big win to separate themselves from the middle of the pack. They must beat Ball State to do that.
