The Bobcats have their second opportunity to show the rest of the Mid-American Conference what they can do Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Central Michigan in The Convo.
A game of this magnitude this early in the season is exactly what Ohio wants in terms of showing it is the best team in the MAC. It also is looking to turn the tides of this matchup that the Chippewas have dominated in recent years, winning five of the last six games.
Here is everything you need to know for Wednesday’s game:
Game Information
Opponent: Central Michigan (8-4, 1-0 MAC)
Game time: 7 p.m.
Where to watch: ESPN+
How to listen: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ohio/
Meet the opponent
Probable starters
01 Micaela Kelly
50 Kyra Bussell
14 Molly Davis
04 Maddy Watters
21 Jahari Smith
Reserves
33 Gabrielle Bird
42 Mackenna Kelly
22 Kalle Martinez
11 Sophia Karasinski
Individual stat leaders
Points per game: Mi. Kelly (24.3 per game)
Rebounds per game: Bussell (7.2 per game)
Steals: Mi. Kelly (24)
Field goal percentage: Davis (.750)
3-point percentage (over 10 attempts): Mi. Kelly (.465)
Free throw percentage (over 10 attempts): Watters (.882)
Team stats compared to Ohio
*Ohio’s stats are in parenthesis
Points per game: 75.3 (70.0)
Rebounds per game: 36.3 (34.8)
Steals: 6.8 (11.3)
Field goal percentage: .460 (.404)
3-point percentage: .381 (.328)
Free throw percentage: .775 (.623)
Series history
Ohio currently is losing the all-time series against Central Michigan 36-31. Ohio has historically been much better at home, though, against the Chippewas with a 18-14 all-time record. The two teams met twice last season and split the series with the road team winning each matchup. The Bobcats won most recently in the second game of the series last season, which snapped a five-game losing streak against Central Michigan.
Players to watch for
Cece Hooks is a player that is primed to have a great game Wednesday. Last time the Bobcats faced Central Michigan, she scored a game-high 28 points. She is also coming off a game in which she scored just eight points. After every game except one that Hooks scored fewer than 10 points this season, she has come back with at least 15 points.
Micaela Kelly has been the player to watch all season for Central Michigan. She leads the MAC with 24.3 points per game and has three 30-point games so far this season. In her last three games, the junior guard has scored 31, 26 and 30 points.
Why is this game important?
Ohio is out to make a statement to the rest of the MAC, and this is the perfect opportunity. Central Michigan is a 2019 NCAA Tournament team that can score as much as anybody and has played a rigorous nonconference schedule of its own, including a loss to No. 9 Louisville.
If the Bobcats win this game, especially by a wide margin, it will legitimate their spot at the top of the conference until someone beats them.
